Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

January 9, 2025

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Lin Burnett, an oral surgeon in Little Rock, took his usual Monday off Dec. 16 at Lake Hamilton and landed this 11.14-pound black bass. Lake Hamilton started off 2024 with a couple of double-digit catches reported and finished the same way, with several more in tournaments during the year.

During January and February, Fishing Reports will run every two weeks. In between reports, contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for the most up-to-date information.

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

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 1-9-2025) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said Lake Conway is drawn down to just a few small pools of water around much of the lake. Lakes Overcup and Atkins are where anglers who visit Bates were headed for crappie fishing at the end of 2024, they reported. Minnows and jigs were the baits of choice. Everything in the immediate area had slowed down in terms of fishing, they added.

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 12-31-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said the best fishing has been after periods of generation or during falling water. Focus your efforts on the shoals and deep plunge pools just downstream. On days when the river is at its lowest, target deeper water sections with moss beds, as these areas are holding fish.
The top flies recently have been egg patterns, San Juan Worms and various midges. Adjust your tactics based on flow and clarity, and you should find success.
“Tight lines and stay safe out there! For guided trips or more information, feel free to reach out.”

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 1-9-2025) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 460.90 feet msl. That’s 1.14 feet below normal pool of 462.04 feet msl for this time of year. Since the last report in December, it has came up over 5 feet and now Southwestern Power Administration is back generating off and on some.
Most fish species are have been on the move with water rising. For crappie, try super shallow and out to 30 feet, and use jigs, minnows or crankbaits. Fishing straight up and down in pole timber or over brushpile is working great. Walleye are eating in the main lake off and on and starting their pre-staging or are staging and scattered throughout the lake. Whether your fishing around bridge pilings and mouths of rivers, or on any corner facing upstream, drag a minnow or crankbait in 45-65 feet. Some walleye following under big schools of whites and hybrids — use a spoon for those, and with 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 and some are roaming schooling on top. For the ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. They are wanting to get settled in about 43 feet, which is the magic water depth where they are comfortable here for many months out of the year — it has the right temp and oxygen. Catfish are biting all over lake and rivers on the usual stuff. Try staying around schools of shad. Some bream might be found shallow but most around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers are working fine as well as inline spinners. Though a lone black bass or two might be caught shallow, most are out roaming and schooling. Use Carolina rigs, Wiggle Warts or any flat-sided crankbait, drop-shots and spinnerbaits for best action, as well as the Rat-L-Trap, of course, super shallow out to 60 feet.
“Be safe and wear your life jacket. And come out this weekend, Friday through Sunday, and visit us at the Marine Expo boat show at Little Rock’s Statehouse Convention Center. There will be lots of boats, tackle, whatever you need for water and a whole lot more.

(updated 12-31-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the smallmouth bass are doing really well in 15-20 feet of water. Anglers were having best success with a peanut butter and jelly jig in a half-ounce or three-quarter-ounce size. The largemouths and spotted bass were doing well off main lake points. Try an Alabama rig using an eighth-ounce jighead with a 2.8-inch or 3.3-inch swimbait.

Crappie on the lake were doing pretty good as well. They are being caught in 20-25 feet of water, and an eighth-ounce jighead (try silver or pink) with a black and chartreuse body is your best ticket to success.

Harris Brake Lake
(updated 1-9-2024) Bing Watkins at Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says fishing was pretty good for the past couple of weeks, but not this week. “Too cold,” she says. However, crappie fishing was going well after Christmas and the first week of 2025. Several crappie were approaching 2 pounds and 15 inches in length. These crappie were being caught from boats; though crappie can also be caught around the bank, you’re not going to catch the bigger ones there now, there is too much shad around the shoreline. Get a boat and use minnows. 

Also, crappie jigs in white/chartreuse and the 2-inch Baby Shad in crystal color have been working very well.

Anglers also caught some good numbers of white bass in the last couple of weeks, and they were also pretty good-sized fish. “Some were up to 3 pounds or more,” Bing reports. Best fishing for white bass was around the northwest corner of the lake around stumps.

“Still lots of pelicans,” she says. “Water is back up a little bit from where it had been, about 8 inches below normal.”

Follow more from Harris Brake Lake Resort on its Facebook page.

Lake Maumelle
(updated 1-9-2025) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) had no reports for this week. Before Christmas, the water level was 7.68 feet below normal pool as Central Arkansas Water draws the lake down to 8 feet below normal level to help eliminate water hyacinth.

As the year closed out, the largemouth bass bite reportedly was good. Some could be found shallow in 2-5 feet or water, while a few reports had bass being found in the back of the creeks. Others were being found deeper and scattered around brush anywhere from 10-20 feet. Try points and drop-offs. Try using topwater baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, jerkbait, Chatterbait and crankbaits. Spotted bass also were good. There were reports of them being found scattered on drop-offs in 10-20 feet depth. Use jerkbaits or jigs. Crappie were good, with reports of crappie being found between 20-30 feet depth. Jigs were working.

No reports on white bass, bream or catfish. 

(update 1-9-2025) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) had no new reports, but by late in 2024 was reporting that crappie could be found in 25-30 feet of water on brush and were roaming. Jigs and minnows were 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 1-9-2025) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said anglers have out even in the sub-freezing weather this week catching crappie. They have been doing real well catching them in 10 feet depth on minnows.

“The shad are so thick in the creek that you could walk on them right now,” Ray said.

Black bass are also doing really well but they are deep, and deep-diving crankbaits are best.

Ray has heard nothing on bream or catfish. “Only diehard fishermen are fishing this time of year in this weather, and they’re mostly crappie fishermen,” he said.

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 1-9-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) had no new reports. Late in 2024, they reported that the black bass had moved up a little bit more shallow, biting at the ends of jetties in 5-8 feet of water on spinnerbaits or jigs. Also, with any live grass you can find, throw a weightless Senko or a spinnerbait in about 3-5 feet of water. The best colors of spinnerbaits seemed to be a white with gold blade or a white/chartreuse with a red blade.

Crappie on the river were doing pretty good at the end of 2024, they reported. They were in 10-12 feet of water on brushpiles or off the ends of jetties. Best success, they heard, was by throwing a one-sixteenth-ounce jighead (unpainted or pink) with a black and chartreuse jig.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 1-9-2025) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) reports that the lake is closed for the season to serve as a waterfowl rest area for duck season. It will reopen for fishing on Feb. 10, the Monday following the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt weekend.

White River
(updated 1-9-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “We’re looking to the new year and seeing lots of opportunities for trout anglers, young and old. Increased releases from Bull Shoals Dam are in progress to help us power through this frigid cold snap — 10,000 to 19,000 cfs (three to six units) pretty much around the clock. By the weekend we should return to more manageable levels as the daytime temperatures hit the mid-40s. Bull Shoals Lake is a foot below its normal power pool at 658.03 feet mls.
“We’ve seen some significant weather fluctuations and have turned to a mashup of shrimp and corn for a consistent rainbow bite. The browns have responded well to sculpin and river minnows, especially redfin minnows if you can find them. Tie on fluorescent or translucent orange egg patterns during the spawn season for a sure catch.
“Anglers have the opportunity during the high-water times to cast those big stick baits. Get out your No. 7, No. 9, even No. 11 Rapala Countdowns, gold and black or the rainbow pattern, and the 3-inch and 4-inch Smithwicks. Blue back, orange bellied Smithwicks first. This month has started with frigid nights and chilly days — and steady catches of rainbows with a brown or two (or more) brought in for pictures and a thrill. River traffic is slow in January and you may not see another angler for hours.
“Hope to see you in 2025. Pick a not-too-cold winter day to come over to the White; the coffee’s on and the trout are biting.”

(updated 1-9-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and 2025 has started out well. We have seen varied river levels due to the varied generation schedules from the dams. The colder weather has caused an increase in electrical demand. Although the weather is cold, the fishing has been great. The brown trout are active with many caught using artificial lures such as CD5 Rapala Countdowns in silver and rainbow trout colors. The largest brown we have seen was 31 inches with many more 24-inches-plus. We are also seeing some nice rainbows caught on similar lures similar to Panther Martins with black body with yellow spots and gold blade. Drift-fishing remains good using Uncommon Bait Neo Pink Eggs and tipping the hook with shrimp. 

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 1-9-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is at 657 feet msl and the water temperature is 48 degrees, give or take. “I haven’t been much with below beautiful weather; looks like next week will be better. If you decide to go this weekend, bundle up and be safe. Fishing will be good especially before the fronts.
“Shallow guys, there are plenty of fish on the bank. If there’s wind and clouds, I’m covering water where the wind hits square on the bank. Check out sides of points, chunk rock, steep bank or ledge rock close to deeper water. A SPRO Crawler, Wiggle Wart, Red Craw or green variations. You’ll have keep moving to find them but when you do there’s usually a few close.
“There are always fish to be caught on a jig. If it’s sunny, fish points with a little wind, or brush or ledges, but you’re looking anywhere from 20-40 feet, and shallower if we get clouds.
“The winter patterns are working. Offshore video gaming. Shad are still spread out with the water generating. Target bigger bait balls and shad becomes the structure. Look in creek hollers in 50-90 feet overall depth; every day every creek will be a little different. Loons and graph time pay off this time of year. Use a single 2.8 white swimbait or jerkbait or Flutter Spoon around those high swimming shad or dying shad balls, early or late in the day when shad are up in the water column. If they are being finicky, hang a Tater Shad over the side. For schooling fish, try a Jewel Scope Spin or a jigging Rap. Use a Jewel Scuba Spoon for those bottom dwellers. Lots of different species showing up out there in the middle. Each day is different so “fish the conditions.” 

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

(updated 1-9-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye are in 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 going to be a good place to start looking, and 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 now are going to be fishing deep in 50-70 feet of water using three-quarter-ounce or 1-ounce spoons or Ice Jigs. Throwing a jerkbait on windblown points in 8-12 feet of water has been producing a few good fish, also. Search out points with deep water close by those depths.

(updated 1-9-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are scattered in the creek brushpiles all the way out to the main lake. Look for structure anywhere from 15-30 feet. The one-eighth-ounce Tater Baits Small Fry have been working well, along with 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 12-31-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said ater temperature was dropping and now is in the 40s.

The lake is cleaning up slowly. The upper river arms are a good stain right now. Dirty water still remains from Hickory traveling north to Monte Ne, but is not all that bad. 

Stripers are starting to show. The striper bite is on one day and off another. Fish are showing from Prairie Creek up to Camp War Eagle and up to Neil’s Bluff.

“My advice as always is trust your electronics! Move if it doesn’t look good. If you trust what you see and you see nothing … well, move. Keep looking and as I tell clients, look for the pieces of the puzzle. Do you see bait? Do you see bait that is being harassed by game fish? And if you do, well, then you found your spot! 

“If you see nice, pretty, round bait balls, that’s fine and good. What you are looking for on your electronics are bait balls that are misshapen and irregular. Bait balls that look like an “L” or a “C”. Or the classic donut hole. Those are baits that are being attacked and fed upon.”
Crappie are really loading up on brush and mud flats. Look in 15-25 feet of water. Jigs and minnows will work. Black bass will be caught on football jigs. Look along chunk banks.
“It’s cold but always good to be outside. This is a good time to fish! Good luck!”
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 1-9-2025) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said, “Happy New Year, folks, and welcome to 2025! We at Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service are excited about the 2025 fishing season; a lot of new things are coming our way! Now for the fishing report: Fishing in the low-water areas has made fishing with gold-colored quarter-ounce spoons and jerkbaits effective, as the trout move up onto the gravel bars to feed. Drift-fishing with yellow and orange Fire Eggs with a piece of worm continues to be effective on both the gravel bars and deeper holes. Fishing with live bait has been slow, but when the browns or rainbows bite, the trout have tended to be larger (16 inches or more).
“With the prediction of snow for the next few days, there is the potential we may see higher water levels and dingy water depending on the amount of runoff from melt. With the fridged temperatures, there will not be that much fishing going on, especially when temperatures dip in the teens. However, one of us will get out weekly to make sure to get you guys an update. 

“As some of you are probably waiting on, the walleye spawn is fast approaching. We are already picking up fish in the Table Rock section of the river. If you want to venture out, trying pulling WalleyeX lures in 15 feet of water and jigging soft plastics. Having a graph comes in handy when looking for the pockets of fish.

“Like always, for additional information, please follow my Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) for day-to-day updates. Stay warm, and catch some fish!”

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 1-9-2024) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) is closed for winter break and will reopen Jan. 14.

Lake Charles
(updated 1-9-2025) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) had no new reports.

Lake Poinsett
(updated 1-9-2025) Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park said, ”The rumors are TRUE! Lake Poinsett is back open for all fishing! As of Jan. 1, the AGFC lifted catch-and-release limitations on the bass and crappie in the lake. You can catch and keep a daily limit of 15 crappie, 10 largemouth bass (only 1 may be longer than 16 inch) and, as before, 10 catfish and 50 bream. 

“Opening day saw numerous boats out on the lake, and this first week has continued to see high numbers of anglers come try their luck on the lake. Minnows have continued to be a favorite bait, but many people have stopped in at the park and said they are biting on just about anything that moves right now. 

“One fisherman even said, ’I bet you could throw just a hook out there and those fish would bite.’ I do not know if I’d put that to the test, but anglers have been catching their limits pretty quickly. While this trend may not last indefinitely, Lake Poinsett should remain a healthy lake for a long time.”

Spring River
(updated 1-9-2025) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are at 480 cfs, 350 avg. And water clarity has been green stained. There has been a lot of rain lately keeping river levels up above normal. Watch for heavy rains that may cause flooding. The catching has been great for trout with big Woollies working well most days. Go with big eggs with nymph droppers on the tough days. A sink tip line can help get the fly down. A long leader with high sticking techniques works great, too. If using an indicator look for the slower seams. 

The smallmouth are there, but can be tough to get to bite with the water up. Better chance banging the banks for browns. Make them mad.
“Wading is tough out there. With the frigid temps when getting wet, find a warm area quick! A wading staff is very helpful. Just be safe, it’s never too cold for the trout.

“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 12-31-2024) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reported late in 2024 that water temperature was around 50 degrees. Visibility near zero in runoff zones up to about 12 inches in protected areas. The black bass bite was declining, but they could still be caught. Wind-blown steeper banks with depth and shad were more consistent than others. Spinnerbaits and bladed jigs worked slowly along banks/near cover were getting a few bites. Jerkbaits near steeper banks and cover were producing some as well. Dark-colored jigs, as always, continued to get bites just using trailers with less action. They suggested that once the river temperature fell into the mid-40s it would be best to look elsewhere for black bass; it gets very tough until spring. 

Cane Creek Lake
(updated 1-9-2025) Shelley Burr at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said that anglers were targeting crappie with minnows in several areas of the lake as the new year arrived.

Lake Monticello
(updated 1-9-2025) 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 1-9-2025) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said he’s been on vacation for two weeks, “and with the SNOW-apocalypse coming in Thursday and Friday, I won’t be out on a frozen boat ramp this week either.” Mike’s “crappie guru” guide, Mackey Harvin, has reported that water temperature on the lake has been ranging 42-48 degrees.

Army Corps of Engineers gate changes and current release at Millwood Dam is about 10,300 cfs as of Wednesday, and lake elevation is 6 inches above the normal pool and falling.

Mike’s most recent report at the end of the year, when temps were warmer, was: 

* Largemouth bass were following threadfin shad in random locations for several weeks and have recently moved into the creeks following the shad. The surface-feeding and breaking on shad in the oxbows and 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 shad have begun moving into the backs of creeks over the past couple weeks. The biggest changes over the past few weeks continue to be the cooler weather one week with highs in the 50s, and warm weather the next with highs in the 70s, though maybe that is over for a while.
Continue watching for egrets, cranes and herons standing on stumps and broken timber. Those birds are watching the shad. Bass are following the shad into the creek channels in the oxbows and along Little River. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River are still holding schools of largemouth, spotted 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 holding numerous groups of different age classes. For the past few weeks, bass have moved into the creek channels following the shad seeking warmer water temps. With these sudden cold fronts one day and surface water temperatures heating up the next, and the changing surface water densities, we are seeing bass following the shad to backs of the creeks where the water temps are much warmer, and they have been staging in the creek mouths and into the creeks channels over the past couple weeks.

The best reaction baits for the schooling bass, when they were feeding in a frenzy, have been seen using Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or Chrome Blue, chrome/black, Tail Spinner Rat-L-Traps, Kastmaster Spoons, and 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.

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 couple 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 one-quarter to three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Traps over the past week 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 a lot of reaction bites from schooled-up bass following shad in the oxbows.

When the activity 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 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 following the same shad schools as the largemouths over the past couple of weeks. Surface-breaking has reduced over the past few weeks due to incoming fresh water, reduced surface temps and increased current along Little River. The whites were 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 a few weeks ago. Little River has reduced surface clarity recently due to thunderstorms and rainfall. White bass are roaming all along the oxbows and Little River, and roaming in and out of creek dumps, too. Whites are found in close proximity to the spotted bass and largemouth bass, all feeding on threadfin shad. Keep a heavy, half-ounce to three-quarter-ounce hammered spoon with a white/red bucktail on deck at all times for vertical-jigging in the eddies behind primary and secondary points in the river!
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 will draw random reactions from whites. Little George’s, Rocket Shads and red/white Rooster Tails were working last week.
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. Their activity levels continue improving, reacting to crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in the oxbows very well. They range in size from juveniles to adults and 1-3 pounds each.

* Crappie are fair but continue a slow improving trend. Increased current and muddy inflow from recent rains along Little River drastically clouded water clarity. Best activity in our planted brush is from 10-16 feet deep. The brushpiles continue holding some nice slabs over the past week and action and activity was improved this week. Minnows, hair jigs and blue/chartreuse tubes were catching some nice 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.
* Fishermen we continue visiting with on Little River were having success with catfish using limblines with cut buffalo, chicken hearts and frozen catalpa worms along Little River under overhanging tree limbs from 8-12 feet of depth. They told us they were catching anywhere from 10-15 per day of high-fin blues and channel cats ranging from 5-8 pounds each.

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.

No reports.

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

No reports.

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 12-31-2024) 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 1-9-2025) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam has fallen to 44 degrees due to the below-freezing temperatures of the last week. Entergy has been running round-the-clock generation because of the demand for power to combat the frigid weather conditions. Both lakes Catherine and Hamilton have been lowered 3 feet for the winter drawdown and will remain in place until early March when the refill is scheduled. Clear conditions exist in the tailrace from the bridge to the dam; however, this scenario will change with the heavy snowfall forecast for our area Thursday night.
Very little fishing or boating has taken place near the dam with the dangerous cold in place. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has stocked quality rainbow trout in Lake Catherine in November and December and these fish are thriving in the cold temperatures. January will be a big month for trout stocking with 9,700 fish scheduled to be released. As soon as the snow melts and the runoff is passed through the system, very good opportunities will present themselves for catching good numbers of trout. Bank fishermen can use PowerBait in yellow or white fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater and expect consistent action in the main channel. Waxworms or mealworms will also work well presented in the same manner. Spin-fishermen should concentrate on areas of current where rocks and sandbars are present and cast Rooster Tails in silver or brown. Trout often hide in the areas to stay out of the main current and to ambush prey. Fly-fishermen can wade to these same areas and cast micro-jigs in black and white under a strike indicator. San Juan Worms in pink offer another quality lure to tempt finicky trout. 

Thousands of threadfin shad have been swept into the Carpenter Dam tailrace from Lake Hamilton this month. The freezing temperatures stun these baitfish, which are then drawn through the turbines during generation and float over the shallow water to be preyed upon by area game fish. This is one reason that the trout make such wonderful tablefare due to the superior diet created by this process repeated over and over during the winter months. 

Anyone visiting Carpenter Dam park is advised to follow all park rules and regulations and always obey law enforcement officers that are constantly monitoring the area. Wearing a lifejacket is a must when navigating the tailrace and could save your life in an accident.

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

(updated 1-9-2025) Seth Boone, superintendent at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7474), had no new reports.

Lake Hamilton
(updated 1-9-2025) 2024 ended the way it began on Lake Hamilton, with a double-digit bass being caught at the lake. Lin Burnett hoisted an 11.14-pound black bass on Dec. 16. The fish measured 25.5 inches long. He said a fin clip was retained from the bass for genetic study by the AGFC. The year began with a couple of double-digit catches as well.

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 11-14-2024) Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025) 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 1-9-2025) 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. Try a CC Spoon in 20-40 feet of water. Stripers are 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 this week on walleye, bream or catfish.

Water temperature is ranging 44-50 degrees. Water clarity is clear. The lake level as of Tuesday this week was 577.26 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.