Arkansas Wildlife Fishing Report
BY Jim Harris
ON 10-24-2018
Oct. 24, 2018
Jim Harris
Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
Weekly Fishing Report
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for Oct. 24, 2018. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email AGFCfishingreport@outlook.com with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports might be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter 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
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
NOTICE: An irrigation restriction on Lake Conway will be in effect through March 1, 2019. The irrigation restriction will allow the AGFC to apply Environmental Protection Agency-approved aquatic herbicides to treat and reduce the spread of alligator weed, a non-native, invasive aquatic plant. Herbicides used will not cause harm to aquatic organisms, such as fish, and are not harmful to people or wildlife that may come into contact with treated vegetation or water. Herbicides that will be used have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. Therefore, the AGFC strongly recommends adjacent landowners DO NOT irrigate water from Lakes Conway for lawn or garden use during this period.
(updated 10-24-2018) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the clarity is the dependable “Lake Conway stained” and the lake level is high. No water temperature was recorded. That stained water and recent falling temps have helped produced excellent crappie catches the past week, they say. Head to the creeks and use minnows or jigs. Bream reports have jumped the past week, with good catches. Bream are in 5-6 feet of water and hitting redworms and crickets. Bass are good on white spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Like the crappie, you want to fish on the creeks throughout the lake for the hungry bass. Catfishing is good using chicken liver, nightcrawlers and dough bait.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service said the Little Red is experiencing low water conditions due to sporadic water release patterns based on power needs from the Greers Ferry Dam. This is creating good wading conditions but is challenging boating on most sections of the river. Sowbugs, midges, soft hackles and Wooly Buggers are working well for fly anglers. Pink and cotton candy Trout Magnets are recommended for spin fishing. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501-362-5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
(updated 10-25-2018) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said that after the rain last Friday night, the river was off-color but fishable above Sconcher Shoal and from Lobo to Dripping Springs. Canoe Creek, Sulphur Creek and Big Creek were putting muddy water into the river. This has cleaered down to below Lobo Landing as of midweek. They are scheduled to run two units for four hours this evening starting at 7 p.m. This should help clear hte lower section of the river, but the forecast is for rain Thursday, so one might need to check on the amount of generation and thsi time of the year it can be limited. Fishing has been good during the low-water period with no generation since Saturday. It has been a matter of finding the clearer water and using small flies with a good presentation. The moss is very thick and small flies without much weight seem to be the best choice. A few browns are being caught and they seem to be starting to be more active during the day with no signs of spawning activity, but this should begin within the next few weeks.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.52 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.04 feet msl Oct. 1-April 30; 463.04 feet msl May 1-June 1; 462.54 feet msl June 1-Sept. 30).
(updated 10-24-2018) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 460.52 feet msl, 1.52 feet below normal pool of 462.04 feet msl for this time of year. Some generation is going on at night now. We are going through a transition at present with the cooler water temps and the rainfall, with more to come. The overall bite has been good most days with the best about to come as we get into fall full bloom. Crappie catching has been real good in the creek arms and main lake pole timber. Manmade brush piles are producing as well all over the lake on jig and minnows from 12-30 feet. Walleye are scattered from 12-60 feet and also roaming under schooling fish for an easy meal; try crawlers and minnows dragged around on flats with a jighead or drop-shot rig for the best results. Catfish are coming in on all sorts of baits and techniques all over the main lake and rivers. Bream are on their last spawn of the year; try crawlers, crickets, small crankbaits and inline spinners from the bank out to 18 feet of water. Black bass are eating a variety of baits from up on the bank out to 60 feet, as well as roaming schoolers – pick your poison right now, there are lots of healthy fish being caught as they are feeding well on our large shad population. Hybrid and white bass catching is good and will continue to be good on spoons, inline spinners, swimbaits, topwater baits and hair jigs in depths of 25-60 feet of water. A lot of 300 fish days are common now, just stay around the shad.
(updated 10-24-2018) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is a little cloudy and the lake remains high. No surface water temperature was reported. Bass are biting fair. No baits were suggested. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting fair with minnows. Catfishing is fair.
NOTICE: An irrigation restriction on Lake Overcup will be in effect through March 1, 2019. The irrigation restriction will allow the AGFC to apply Environmental Protection Agency-approved aquatic herbicides to treat and reduce the spread of alligator weed, a non-native, invasive aquatic plant. Herbicides used will not cause harm to aquatic organisms, such as fish, and are not harmful to people or wildlife that may come into contact with treated vegetation or water. Herbicides that will be used have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. Therefore, the AGFC strongly recommends adjacent landowners DO NOT irrigate water from Lakes Overcup for lawn or garden use during this period.
(updated 10-17-2018) Johnny “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Bait Shop and R.V. Park (501-354-9007) said water level is high by about 3 feet. Clarity is good and surface temperature is around 70 degrees. Bass are doing well as always. Bream are slow. Catfish are being caught around buckbrush were the creeks are flowing in. Crappie are starting to pick up using minnows and jigs in 5-6 feet of water. “I caught 62 yesterday morning between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., but kept 19 that were 10-13 inches,” Johnny said.
Brewer Lake
(updated 10-24-2018) Larry Walters at Bones Bait Shop (501-354-9900) said fishing has been good at Brewer Lake. The water is clear and the lake level is normal. No surface temperature was recorded. Crappie are excellent. Target a depth of 8-10 feet around brush piles, and go with jigs or grubs. Bass are good and are particular to shad this week. Catfishing reports were fair. White bass are good. Bream are fair.
(updated 10-24-2018) WestRock Landing (501-658-5598), formerly Jolly Roger’s Marina, says that with the water temperatures in the mid-60s the lake had its first stages of a turnover this week. Largemouth bass fishing is great. The bass are hitting the shallow-running baits. With the first frost, reports are coming in of bass pushing towards the creeks as well as some being suspended off creek channels. Try using crankbaits, spoons, and some reports are coming in of catching bass off swim jigs. Kentucky bass are good. They are mixed in with the largemouths and few can be found in 8-12 feet of water. Try fishing shallow with running baits and off structures with swim jigs. White bass fishing has been poor. Some anglers are saying the white bass are in schools, but it’s tough getting a bite. Crappie are good. Reports have come in of them being found on top of brush suspended about 18-22 feet of water. Try using chartreuse jigs and minnows. Bream are fair. Less reports coming in this week. Some are still catching bream on redworms. No reports on catfish this week.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said that even though the last known date that it was stocked with catfish was back on Sept. 25, a few folks are still catching a few of them using chicken livers and nightcrawlers. A few crappie are being caught off of small crappie minnows and pink crappie minnows. Bass are being caught off of bass minnows and some topwater baits. Bream have been slow but have bit crickets.
Bishop Park Ponds
(updated 10-24-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said a few small fish being caught off medium minnows.
Saline River Access in Benton
(updated 10-24-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie are biting on medium crappie minnows. Bass have been hitting on bass minnows and bigger bait. Bream are biting on crickets and redworms.
Lisa’s customers have been letting her know about some area hot spots outside Saline County. She says Lake Conway crappie have been doing well on medium crappie minnows. At Lake Ouachita, her customers are using small No. 4 crappie minnows and Kalin’s 2-inch Grubs in the Tennessee Shad color and Bobby Garland Baby Shad in Blue Thunder color – those have been very popular ones, she says. At Lake Greeson the color that has been doing well on crappie is a Red Thunder Bobby Garland Baby Shad Jig. At Lake DeGray the color for the crappie has been Bobby Garland Blue Ice in the Split Tail and 2-inch Slab Slayer jigs. And the Ouachita River has been producing a few nice walleye off of brooder minnows, she says.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie are biting on medium crappie minnows and Kalin’s Bleeding Tennessee shad colored 2-inch Grubs. Bass are being caught on bass minnows and artificial crawfish. Catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers and small bream and black salties.
Lake Pickthorne
(updated 10-17-2018) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said crappie are fair on minnows and black/chartreuse jigs.
Lake Valencia
(updated 10-24-2018) Hatchet Jack’s in North Little Rock (501-758-4958) says catfishing is fair around the gazebo. Use chicken liver or nightcrawlers.
Lake Willastein
(updated 10-24-2018) Hatchet Jack’s in North Little Rock (501-758-4958) says bass are good around the spillway. Anglers are using Texas Ridge creature baits or deep-diving crankbaits. Catfishing is fair around the launch ramp. Try using minnows or nighcrawlers.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) said crappie doing pretty well on bass minnows. Catfish are doing fair on bait shrimp and nightcrawlers.
(updated 10-24-2018) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo (501-354-8080) said the high flows and bad weather have kept most anglers off the river. The migration of birds is great, with Grand pelicans, egrets, herons and puddle ducks is worth the cold and wet to see by boat. The Corps of Engineers has been doing a yeomen’s job on controlling the water. This Tuesday (Oct. 23) the flow has dropped to 102,000 cfs. The coves and backwater are full of shad. For bass fishing, use shallow-billed crankbaits. Also use spinners slow-rolled. For white bass, do the same. Crappie will require jigs in chartreuse with a red head. For catfish, use whole shad. If you’re looking for stripers, go below Lock 9 and throw a wobble spoon with chartreuse and pork rind.
No report.
(updated 10-24-2018) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) says the water clarity is a little stained, while the level and current are normal. Crappie are good. The bite is at 5-6 feet depth. Minnows or jigs are working. Black bass are good. There is a good bite at 3-5 feet depth on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are biting fair on chicken liver. Nothing to report on bream or white bass.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
(updated 10-24-2018) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said catfish are fair near the Murray Lock and Dam. They’re biting skipjack and slicks. White bass are good. Use chartreuse split tail jigs.
(updated 10-24-2018) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said the river is dingy and is running high. No surface temperature was reported. Crappie are excellent. Look for crappie in 6-8 feet depth and around brush piles. Bobby Garland Penny Back Shad and leopard chicken were getting lots of action. Bass are good around the sandbar drops. Use spinnerbaits. Also, black/chartreuse or shad-colored Rat-L-Traps are big now. Catfish reports were fair. Fish below the dam with skipjack. Stripers are active and hungry below the dam. Use 1-ounce jigs. Nothing reported on bream or white bass.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
(updated 10-24-2018) Vince Miller from Fish ’N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) urges anglers and boaters to use caution on the river with the current flow report being high. The clarity is stained; no temperature was reported. Crappie are good. The crappie are biting at 8-10 feet on jigs, particularly the purple/chartreuse jigs with 1/16th-ounce weight. Bass reports have been good. Best results have come on quarter-ounce and half-ounce Rat-L-Traps. No reports on catfish, no reports on bream.
(updated 10-24-2018) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water clarity is muddy near Terry Lock and Dam, with a normal level and current. The only reports to come in from here were for crappie, with good catches reported. Crappie are really hitting the minnows now. Nothing on bream, bass or catfish.
(updated 10-24-2018) Hatchet Jack’s (501-758-4948) said catfish are fair near the Murray Lock and Dam. They’re biting skipjack and slicks. White bass are good. Use chartreuse split tail jigs.
(updated 10-24-2018) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said the river is dingy and is running high. No surface temperature was reported. Crappie are excellent. Look for crappie in 6-8 feet depth and around brush piles. Bobby Garland Penny Back Shad and leopard chicken were getting lots of action. Bass are good around the sandbar drops. Use spinnerbaits. Also, black/chartreuse or shad-colored Rat-L-Traps are big now. Catfish reports were fair. Fish below the dam with skipjack. Stripers are active and hungry below the dam. Use 1-ounce jigs. Nothing reported on bream or white bass.
Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool)
(updated 10-17-2018) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and the level is high. No temperature was recorded. Crappie are good on minnows or jigs. Bass reports were good, with anglers still using spinnerbaits, crankbaits or worms. Bream reports were poor, as were the reports on catfish.
Peckerwood Lake
(updated 10-24-2018) Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) reported the water clarity is still “a little dingy” and the water level is high; the lake is full, Donna reports. Crappie fishing continued to be good on minnows or jigs. Bass are good on most any lure, Donna says. Catfishing is good with hot dogs and stink bait. Bream aren’t biting.
White River
(updated 10-24-2018) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) says Bull Shoals Lake remains more than 4 feet below power pool so it’s not surprising that generation flows have been low. During this past week, the water level on the White River in the north-central Arkansas Ozarks has remained steady with only small upticks in generation, mostly in the late afternoon. “Up until last Friday, we successfully dodged daytime rainfalls but braved a chilly, wet day and sent our anglers home with a great catch of rainbows. The lake level was not affected by the more than inch of rain we received. Rain or shine, our rainbows are chasing shrimp, especially when it’s paired with a small piece of power bait. As we move into autumn and closer to the brown trout spawning season, change your bait color to orange or pink. It’s hard to beat a good day of jig fishing; tie on an olive/black or an orange/brown Zig Jig or Marabou jig (1/8-ounce works best in this water level) and get ready to net some trout. Use those same colors for casting Wooly Boogers with your fly rods. Enjoy these cool mornings and sunny days on the river; stop by and share your latest fish story.”
(updated 10-24-2018) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the river clarity remains clear and the Corps of Engineers has been running two generators all week 24.7. The fishing is excellent with rainbows. Anglers are having best success with PowerBait and with spoons. A few browns were caught on stick baits and jigs, but it’s slowing down for browns.
(updated 10-24-2018) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said last Friday that during the past week they have had a few rain events (a bit an inch in Cotter), cooler temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 0.8 feet to rest at 4 feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet msl. This is 40 feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell 0.2 feet to rest at 4.9 feet below seasonal power pool and 18.9 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at 3.1 feet below seasonal power pool and 12.7 feet below the top of flood pool. The White had no wadable water. Norfork Lake remained steady at 2.6 below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 28.8 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork had little generation and wadable water every day. Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are now well below the top of power pool. The White has fished well. The hot spot has been Wildcat Shoals. They are still hitting grasshoppers for some nice topwater action. The hot flies were olive Woolly Buggers (sizes 8, 10), Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (sizes 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead sizes 16, 18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (John’s current favorite combination is a size 14 Copper John with a size 18 ruby midge suspended below it. Use lead to get your flies down.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.72 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl).
(updated 10-17-2018) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said they’ve had some big weather come in. This cold front will hopefully get those fish moving a little more. It’s been kind of stagnant. The Army Corps of Engineers are running a little water at the dam (dropping the lake about 4 feet) and the days are getting shorter. These fish are starting the move up. As the temperature cools off these fish are starting to get a little more comfortable coming up shallow, so day in and day out don’t forget to check the shallow part. The fish for me have been following into the creeks arms, the bigger creek arms, following the channels going in those bass seem to be keyed in on the shad. If you’re around the shad you’re going to be around the fish. But the key is just keep moving, chucking and winding. It’s power fishing time of year; so, if you put in the work, it’ll pay off. Just don’t be afraid to move. In the morning starting off, there’s a topwater bite. Either throwing a Lucky Craft or Sammy, a buzzbait if there’s some wind. If there’s a little more wind you can throw the Whopper Plopper. That morning bite, if it’s windy and cloudy all day you can stay and throw topwater all day. If it lays flat on you, you’re going to have to mix it up, obviously. Going into the creeks and following the channel swing banks, sides of points with wind on them, the big key is to stay in the wind. If you’re in the wind you’re going to get bit. The square bill is catching some fish. Obviously those fish are a little bit shallower. The jig bite is producing. Green pumpkin or green pumpkin orange, some shad or crawdads. If it does lay flat and if you get some sun, you can still catch them drop-shotting deep up around the docks, hot on the points. The fish seem to be still in that 26-28 feet range. Those are mostly Kentucky bass with some smallmouth bass mixed in. We have been catching quite a few smallmouth even up shallow. If it’s super windy, throw a spinnerbait. The spinnerbaits are starting the work, but you need to have a lot of wind for that the work.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.33 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April 552.00 feet msl; April-September, 554.00 feet msl).
(updated 10-24-2018) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said Norfork Lake’s striper bite has been uneven this week. “Last weekend we were catching limits of stripers around School Bus Point and Reynolds Island. The big storm we had on Sunday and cold snap that followed blew all the stripers out of the area. I fished Monday there and did mark many fish and only caught catfish and white bass. I moved back to the state line area and hooked up with seven bites on the first trip. The next day we had fog and only caught one and missed a couple more.” Tom says he has been catching stripers there every day. “One trip, I took my clients up where we only caught and released bigger stripers. We hooked up with a fat 18-pound striper that gave the client a good fight and great picture. It was returned to fight again.” The stripers are moving down from Udall. The water up there is 61 degrees, whereas the state line area it’s 67 degrees. Tom said both he and son Sean fished that area Saturday and boated three quality stripers plus a few smaller ones. The cold snap has driven most of the shad out of the shallows but the upper part of the lake had plenty of bait, he said. As long as the shad stays in the area, the stripers will continue to feed and be catchable.
Tom says the lake temperature continues to drop and will be in the 60s all over the lake by the end of this week. The crappie bite is very strong on the deep brush piles, and limits are being caught using a small spoon or minnows. The bass bite is also very strong all over the lake. “Greg Weinmann at Hand Cove Resort tells me there has been a fair topwater bite most days recently,” Tom says. “The best has been near and into the entrances of Big and Brushy creeks.” As the water continues to cool, the bait is schooling up and has moved shallower water in the mouths of the creeks. Check Big Creek if you’re on the lower end of the lake and Robinson Point, Float and Panther Creeks in the mid-lake area. The Fouts area will begin holding fish along with areas from Red Bank to the Highway 160 bridge. Find the shad and you will find the stripers. They will be hungry and begin their fall feeding pattern.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fall fishing on Norfork Lake is gearing up to be a great bite. Most species are biting really well, with big numbers being caught. You can have some great fishing times on Norfork Lake in October, November and December. Give Hummingbird Hideaway Resort a call to make your fall fishing vacation reservations at 870-492-5113. Lou says he is “kind of up in the air on what the best bite is, because crappie, largemouth, catfish and white bass are all biting really well. The slowest bite at this time is for striped bass, but (Tuesday) I did land two nice hybrids and two good striped bass on a nearby flat. Fishing is looking up for all species.”
Lou adds, “This time of the year you are going to hear me talk a lot about vertical-jigging with a spoon. I really enjoy this type of fishing because you can catch any of the species on the lake with the same bait and many times in the same area. I tend to use a quarter-ounce spoon for crappie in and around brush piles with 4-pound test line. When I get into 20-30 feet of water I switch to a half-ounce spoon with a 6-pound test line. Then, when I am fishing in 30-plus feet of water I use a 3/4-ounce spoon on 8-pound test. I am a creature of habit and only use monofilament line, but I am hearing great things about P-line. When you find schooling, feeding fish, the color of the spoon really does not matter (in my opinion) as long as the predominant color on the spoon is white. I tend to use spoons that are all white, white with a chartreuse back, white with a green back, or white with a little red under the head.”
White bass have started to school and feed heavily on some of the nearby flats, he said. At daybreak, Lou is finding white bass in 17 feet of water and as the sun rises, they move into deeper water. Tuesday, he was catching whites in 17 feet of water at 7 a.m., but by 9 a.m. he was catching them in 48 feet of water but still in the same general area. He was vertical-jigging with a spoon. “I am not sure if it was luck or by chance, but by 8 a.m. I was fishing in 42 feet of water and the hybrids and stripers started to show up. I ended up landing four of them over the next hour along with many whites. I released all but one hybrid and a few white bass.” As the water continues to cool, all the species will move into the 30-50-foot depth, even at daybreak. You will start to find the stripers in very shallow water in the dark as the water cools. Look for a night bite for stripers and hybrids once the water temperature gets into the low 60s.
Lou says the bass bite continues to be good. All types of bait are working in different types of areas. You can still catch some very nice fish on crawlers in very shallow water. If you like to fish bluff lines, jig and pigs as well as worms are working by letting the bait fall down the rocks from 10-20 feet of water. Spinnerbaits are working along the bluff lines up very close to the rock. Bass are also coming up for topwater baits along the shallow sloping backs. Lou says he has caught a few nice bass 42 feet deep suspended in 70 feet of water close to a bluff. Most bass anglers are telling him the ratio from short fish to keepers is about 60 percent shorts to 40 percent keepers, “not bad!” he says. The crappie bite is also continuing to be very good. They are in brush from 25 feet to 40 feet of water. One day they might be buried in the brush, then the next day they are 10-20 feet down on top of the brush. Jigs are working with a spoon or a grub. Lou says he likes to tip a grub with a small minnow to increase the bite frequency. Catfish are also biting very well. Over the last week, Lou said, he had guests setting five jugs a night and on several occasions they had a nice fish on each. They were using cut bluegills for their bait and catching nice blues. While dock fishing for their bait a 10-pound blue hammered their small hook with a piece of nightcrawler.
Lou says he’s getting a lot of inquiries about the turnover of the lake. Based on the Norfork Lake’s Striper Club temperature and dissolved ozygen readings done Oct. 20, the thermocline has dropped to somewhere between 55-60 feet. It will not be much longer until the total lake has turned over at all depths. This means the oxygen level is basically the same from surface to bottom, as is the water temperature. Norfork Lake’s surface water temperature Tuesday morning was 68.5 degrees. The lake level is fairly stable and currently sits at 551.34 feet msl. The main lake is clear and some of the creeks and coves are somewhat stained.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 10-24-2018) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said last weekend that over the previous week Norfork Lake remained steady at 2.6 below seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 28.8 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork had little generation and wadable water every day. Seasonal power pool has been reset for the lakes in the White River system. All of the lakes in the White River System are now well below the top of power pool. The Norfork has fished well. There have been some nice midge and sporadic caddis hatches that have provided some limited topwater action. Navigate this stream with caution. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole over the past year. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (sizes 18, 20, 22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (sizes 14, 16) like the Green Butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead-headed nymph (zebra midge, Copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise size 10). The fishing is better in the morning. John’s favorite rig has been a red fox squirrel nymph with a ruby midge dropper. Dry Run Creek is fishing much better. The browns have moved up into the creek. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10).
John also said, “Lori and I were very busy last week. The week before, I had a booth at the Fly Fishing Fair while my wife showed our two English Labrador retrievers, Tilley and Ghillie, at a dog show in Tunica, Mississippi (they were both winners). When she came back from the show, we hit the ground running. I had several days on the White River and one day on Dry Run Creek, while Lori had four days on Dry Run Creek. In addition, our fly-fishing class at ASU-Mountain Home began that Thursday.
“Lori had a trip with Ron. His son, John, was about to turn 16 in a matter of days. The plan was to land one big trout before he was too old to fish there anymore. They fished all day and caught several really good trout but did not hit the huge trout that they were looking for.
“The next day I was guiding Frank and his grandson, Luke, on Dry Run Creek. We did very well. Luke was a good angler and we caught a lot of great trout, including a stout 27-inch brown. Frank and Luke were having the time of their lives.
“We stopped for lunch at a picnic table nearby so that we could watch the action on the creek while we ate. As we were chatting about the day’s fishing, Ron came by and introduced himself. He recognized me from my photograph on my website. He and John had returned to the creek in hopes that they could catch the big fish that they wanted. We talked about what a great time he and John had fishing with Lori and how much they had learned. As he walked away, I noticed his net. It was a tiny catch-and-release net. It was not enough net for Dry Run Creek.
“My own personal thought about nets is that bigger is better. Small nets will just make big trout angry. I carry the biggest net that I can find. It has a deep bag and a long handle. I use the same net on Dry Run Creek that I use in the boat. Lori has the same net that she uses on Dry Run Creek. Most fish on Dry Run Creek that are lost, are lost at the net.
“As I was packing up the leftover lunch stuff, Ron came running up. John had hooked a really big trout and he had realized that his net was inadequate for the job. I handed him my net and wished him luck. He had a pretty far way to go. He took off like a scalded dog.
“I finished putting my lunch gear away and gathered up Frank and Luke. We headed upstream to find Ron and John and claim my net. As we reached a spot near the top end of the creek, I saw them. Ron netted a trout as we walked up. It had been about 20 minutes since I gave him the net. That was a heck of a fight. It was the big trout that they had been looking for. It was about 28 inches long, thick and stout. I estimated that it would go around 12 pounds. Frank took a few pictures for them. Now that they had accomplished their goal, Ron and John cranked up their line and headed to Heidi’s Ugly Cakes for lunch.
“Frank, Luke and I returned to the creek to catch some more big trout. We managed to catch a grand slam (that is when you catch a rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout in one day) in the process. Life is good!”
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 10-24-2018) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are navigable. The smallmouths are still active, although the water is cooling. John’s favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,117.43 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 1,121.00 msl).
(updated 10-24-2018) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said that the water level is a little low and the clarity is clear. The surface water temperature has fallen below 70 degrees, they report. Bream reports continue to be poor. Crappie are picking up and they are moving shallower. Fish the brush piles with jigs. Bass reports have been poor, but there is some activity in the daytime. Try using spinnerbaits, crankbaits or shaky head worms. Catfish are mostly not biting well, but you’ll get the best response from chicken liver or with nightcrawlers. Overall, they said the fishing was spotty for the past week.
(updated 10-24-2018) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) striper activity for this week rates as good. Beaver Lake stripers are in fall transition mode and are heading into their fall locations. They are on the move, and being mobile/flexible will be key to finding them. Mike Bailey says they are seeing some topwater action, so get those binoculars out and be on the lookout! For you diehard live baiters, fishing using weighted lines, balloons and downlines between about 20-40 feet deep during daylight hours should get you some stripers. For the artificial baits you can try trolling umbrella rigs with white or chartreuse jigs/grubs or plugs like Rapala No. 14 husky jerks in black back or purple back colors, as well as Smithwick Rogues in similar colors in 5- to 6-inch model on planer boards to stagger your presentation. You should also try casting rattle traps on points and bars at night. Make sure you do not keep striper under 20 inches and not more than three striper/hybrid or combination. Walleye must be 18 inches long with a limit of four. Fish location is greatly influenced by lake level and current flow. Current in Beaver Lake from generation will generally position fish on upstream or downstream edges of structure; check the daily lake level and flow data link on Bailey’s website. Mike also says live bait is always the go-to approach on Beaver Lake when fishing for trophy stripers. This week, water surface temperatures remain in the mid- to high 60s. Mike suggests checking out these hot spots on the mid- and upper sections of the lake, where stripers are on the prowl throughout and there is topwater activity noted: Point 1 (lots of topwater activity around the campground island and the area between there and Honey Creek), Big Clifty, points 5 and 6, Rambo Creek Arm (check the main lake points and humps and also look in back near the tree line), Rocky Branch, Ford and Cedar creeks (pay attention to where tree line intersects channel), Larue (check the main channel bends and cuts), Coppermine, Ventris, Shaddox Hollow, the Highway 12 bridge (lot of fish coming out of the river late due to high water), Prairie Creek (pay attention to areas around the islands and Point 10, as lots of fish are coming out of the high river), Blackburn Creek and Beaver Shores.
Mike says walleye are in fall migration mode and can be found on main lake structures like points and gravel bars. Three-way rigging, down-rigging or using snap weights with Rapalas in natural colors for clear water, or chartreuse/orange and clown colors in areas of stained water, are effective – but hang on tight because the walleye and striper territories overlap some and you my hook more than you bargained for. Try Rapala Tail Dancers, Bagley Rumble B’s, Flicker Shad, Bandit 300 Series and Arkie 350s in colors that include orange and chartreuse. Also try slow death rigs and spinner rigs on bottom bouncers on long points and humps near the channel rigged in orange/chartreuse.
(updated 10-17-2018) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) wonders, “Is it winter or fall?” He says the trout have been pretty consistent this past week. The preferred method has been light terminal tackle with various PowerBaits. They have also been biting on nightcrawlers and Rooster Tails of various colors. The hot spot has been between Spider Creek and Parker Bottoms. Not much to report on bass fishing, as the bite has been very slow since last week. “We are still pretty shallow in the tailwaters,” Austin said. “Hopefully the generators will be back online and we can get some rain. Hope you all stay warm and safe.”
(updated 10-24-2018) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the lake clarity is clear. Surface water temperature has dropped more than 10 degrees over the past couple of weeks and is at 63, while the lake level is normal. Crappie fishing has been poor. Bass are fair. Best success has been on the south bank and around rocky points. Go with topwater plugs, crankbaits or plastic worms. Catfishing produced no reports recently. No reports came in on bream.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) reports that the water clarity is clear, and the level is normal. No surface water temperature was reported. Bream are fair on redworms. Crappie are good on minnows. Bass are good on plastics and other artificial baits. Catfishing is good on minnows and cut baits.
(updated 10-24-2018) Ome Coleman at Lake Poinsett State Park said, “October is a great month to be outdoors and to go fishing. Lake Poinsett State Park is here to serve you with fishing supplies and bait. We get more calls for minnows than any other live bait. We are still keeping goldfish, worms and nightcrawlers in stock, as well as frozen bait. Happy Fishing.” While Lake Poinsett is closed to anglers until 2020 for extensive repairs, there are other lakes in the immediate area to check out, including Lake Charles and Lake Hogue. Also, the AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program is stocking the pond at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
(updated 10-24-2018) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and the lake is down a foot below normal level. The surface temperature wasn’t reported. Fishing picked in some this week. Bream were fair on redworms and crickets. Crappie are good. Look for them at 20 feet depth and use minnows or jigs. Catfish are fair on chicken liver or shad sides. No reports on bass.
(updated 10-24-2018) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are running at 255cfs and water clarity has been clear. The river has been very low. Olive Woollies stripped back upstream have been hot for the brown trout. Large nymphs are hot early for rainbows and an egg with a small nymph dropper is great for numbers. For the smallmouth bass, Mark says he always does well with big white flies stripped back from the shoreline or suspended below an indicator. Hot pink Trout Magnets works for a lot of different fish. Mark says he loves it on the local creeks for smallmouth and panfish. “Below an indicator, the trout eat it up. You just have to get it just off the bottom,” Mark says. “The cool days are always good for going after bigger trout. Layer up and stay dry.”
(updated 10-24-2018) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Spring River is navigable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork rivers. Canoe season is over. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).
(updated 10-24-2018) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no reports.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
(updated 10-24-2018) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no report.
Arkansas River (Pool 2)
No report.
(updated 10-24-2018) No report.
No report.
(updated 10-24-2018) The lake was drawn down about 6-7 feet and while the AGFC completes vegetation and fish cover work on the shoreline through September. The lake will rise with rainfall over the next several weeks and will cover the new anchoring of cut gum trees on the shallow shoreline areas. There was little fishing going on during the hot days of September. During the drawdown, tree stumps are showing in the coves toward the east and northeast of the lake; those are good areas to fish for the bass as the temperature cools down this month.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 260.01 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 259.20 msl).
(updated 10-24-2018) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said Millwood Lake is on a slow steady pool reduction and falling with recent rain and gate changes at the dam by the Army Corps of Engineers. Wednesday lake level was about is 9 inches above normal conservation pool, and Monday the discharge was increased to 9,430 cfs for Little River, according to the Corps. The tailwater below the dam has been pushed back up to the headwaters of Little River by recent rising Red River levels, and as of Monday was about 242 feet msl, with USACE gates release at the dam. Water temps have dropped over the past week, ranging near 59 degrees to 67 degrees later under full sun. Be sure and check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide service’s website or at the Army Corps of Engineers website for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels and conditions. Watch for sudden gate changes and debris, which will increase with current in Little River.
Clarity and visibility have stained over the past week with the river current and lake pool, but remain fair to good in places. Further up river finds highest turbidity rates.
Mike says runoff from mud flats and creek channels have contributed to most stain along the river over the past couple of weeks. Over the past few weeks, bass have been found randomly surface-feeding in Little River and its oxbows, running shad to the surface, and also have been found in adjacent shallow flats to deeper ditches, creek channels and points along the river. The surface-breaking largemouth bass, Kentucky bass and a few white bass activity has increased over the past few days with the cooler surface temperatures along Little River and the oxbows. Large schools of black bass and white bass continue roaming and following the huge shad schools along Little River. Best locations over the past few days for finding these schools are at mouths of creeks dumping into Little River on points ranging from 5-10 feet deep with vegetation and pads. Shad are beginning to migrate into the creeks with the reduction in surface temperatures over the past week. Bass have begun following these shad schools into numerous creek channels and ditches, and feeding activity picked up again this week at the surface. They continue randomly feeding in the creeks over 8-15 feet of depth. Surface feeding activity levels have increased again for random schooling fish, and catches of 30-75 bass per day are not uncommon. Best baits in or near lily pads and vegetation in the creek channels continue to be Bomber Fat Free Shads in Tennessee Shad, Bass Assassin Shads, H&H Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Echo 1.75 and 2.5 crankbaits in shad patterns like Millwood Magic, Sexy Bone Nova, Blueback Herring or Liv-N Chrome. Black/white and white/chartreuse or black/white/yellow H&H Spinners or Rocket Shads are drawing reactions from Kentucky bass and white bass along points extending into Little River. Chrome Johnson Silver Minnow Spoons with a white grub trailer run over tops of the lily pads will still find a random 4-pounder blowing up on shad in the pads. Shad colors continue working near creek mouths and points extending into Little River. Working the cranks in a stop-and-go retrieve will initiate a reaction a lot more lately. Vertical-jigging spoons are still working with Kentucky bass and schools of largemouths in Little River behind points and washouts. Schools of Kentuckies and largemouths feeding on river shad will hit vertical jigged spoons with abandon, once the topwater bite subsides late in the morning. Try Cotton Cordell Hammered Spoons with bucktails. Some mornings a white bucktail is best, and seems like cloudy mornings that a red bucktail works better. Between Jack’s Isle and Hurricane Creek along Little River, in 10-15 foot of depth where broken timber and stumps are located, you will find the most aggressive spoon-bass feeders. Crappie improved in and over planted brush out of the fast current in Little River, by vertically jigging tubes, minnows or Cordell Paddle Tail Grubs in smoke colors. Little River current increased over the past few days and pushed the crappie further back and away from deeper brush piles in the river current, but just out of the current behind point breaks. Catfish improved on yo-yos and trotlines with the increase in gate discharge pushing the current of Little River. Chicken hearts, livers, gizzards and cut shad were working well late last week and first half of this week.
Lake Columbia
Sportsman’s One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) had no report.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Lake Greeson
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 542.04 feet msl (full pool: 548.00 feet msl).
(updated 10-10-2018) Jason Lenderman of JL Guide Service (870-490-0804) says the lake level is 9.5 feet below full pool of 548 feet msl and has risen some in the last week. Water temps have made it to the mid- to upper 70s. The bass are moving into their fall patterns and will only get better as the water cools. Super Spook Jr’s, Zara Puppies, Booyah Hard Knockers and small swimbaits are seeing some action on main lake points with some schooling action taking place throughout the day, especially early and late. Shaky head-rigged Yum Finesse Worms and drop-shots rigged with Yum Kill Shots or Sharpshooters are working OK on main lake points around brush as well. The crankbait bite is picking up as well using shad colored Bandit crankbaits. Crappie are really coming on. They can be caught in 15-30 foot brush with minnows or Kalin’s Grubs.
(updated 10-10-2018) Capt. Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips says crappie are stacking up in great numbers on brush piles in 18-24 feet of water fished with live bait 12-15 feet deep. The cooler weather will be a blessing for the fishing, he adds.
DeGray Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 400.69 feet msl (flood pool: 408.00 feet msl).
(updated 10-24-2018) Capt. Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said the water temperature is down to 66 degrees and the crappie are on big-time. Fish live bait or jigs in the 8-12 feet depth over brush piles. White bass and hybrids are off and on schooling but already migrating up the lake. “Give me a holler and I’ll point you in the right direction,” Darryl says.
(updated 10-24-2018) Local angler George Graves had no report.
De Queen Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 437.52 feet msl (flood pool: 437.00 feet msl).
No reports.
Dierks Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 527.45 feet msl (flood pool: 526.00 feet msl).
No reports.
White Oak Lake
No report.
Felsenthal
No report.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) reported the lake is clear and the water is high, up by about 1 foot. Surface water temperature is ranging 59-61 degrees. Bream reports remain poor. Crappie improved over the past week, with good catches. Use minnows or jigs. Bass are good; soft plastics are the way to go. Catfishing remains poor.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park)
No report.
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
No report.
Lake Catherine (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
(updated 10-24-2018) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that Entergy is currently running a minimum-flow pattern of generation below Carpenter Dam. The lake is at a normal pool and will remain at this level until November when the winter drawdown is scheduled to begin. A 5-foot drawdown will begin Nov. 1 and will be in place until March 1. Rainbow trout fishing has been over for months as the last productive fishing ended in early July. Very few trout remain in the tailrace and no quality fishing will occur until the week of Thanksgiving when the stocking schedule begins again. Water temperature ranges from 60 degrees below the dam to 65 degrees below the bridge. Clarity is good and the overall look of the tailrace is healthy. In the absence of a healthy rainbow trout population, white bass and striper activity are the main sources of gamefish in the early fall. These fish feed heavily on the threadfin and gizzard shad population around the dam. Fall temperatures can bring about some topwater activity as these predator fish chase shad to the surface. Zara Spooks in white or shad colors work well along with Super Spooks in rainbow trout colors as feeding times are fast and short-lived. Stripers move in and out of the tailrace weekly and feed alongside white bass. Large fish over 20 pounds are often seen breaking water below the bridge. Live bait presentations are the best bet for hooking striped bass as artificial lures are often ignored by these wary bass. Gizzard shad presented under a balloon rig will work in slack or current and give anglers the best chance for a hook-up. Watching for breaking fish is crucial for success in the tailrace as schools of bass move quickly and feeding times are short. Walleye are being caught below the dam in deep water on jigging spoons in silver and gold colors. Numbers are few, but fish in the 5-pound class are present. Bream tend to congregate around the dam in the fall and can be caught on crickets and nightcrawlers fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Overall, fishing is slow for all game species in the Carpenter Dam tailrace but will improve greatly in the month of November when the rainbow trout stocking commences for the fall. Anyone navigating the area should be aware of the generation schedules and must always obey all lake and park rules.
(updated 10-24-2018) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-647-9945) said the water temperature is 64 degrees. River is extremely muddy and high. A few clear backwater areas but mostly dingy. Bass are good in some areas; use jigs and Bamboozie, spinnerbaits, Pit Boss. Jigs and scam shad as a trailer have been working, also. Rat-L-Traps are working well on the schooling fish. Black buzzbaits have caught a few fish early. Bass also can be caught at the mouth of the creeks on Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. White bass as being with the stripers. Bream can be found in the lily pads biting worms and crickets. Catfish have been really good in the flooded timber with worms. Crappie have been fair in the creeks on minnows and black/pink jigs.
(updated 10-17-2018) Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas born-and-bred, all-welded Xpress aluminum fishing boat in Hot Springs, reports Lake Hamilton’s water temperature in the mid to upper 60s with clear water throughout. Water temps have nose-dived over the last few weeks with the addition of cold rain water, with more coming. Bass are piled up wholesale at the mouths of creek channels where the current meets the main lake. Massive schools of fish are balled up cornering baitfish balls. When they get one trapped it is one heck of a high-flying feeding frenzy! With that being said, shad imitations fished very fast like a fleeing baitfish are having good results when the fish are breaking. Once they stop, wounded and dying shad patterns like spoons and jerkbaits are next in line. A good idea to try when you can’t get bit is to go to the wacky rig and experiment with colors until something happens. The fish are there no doubt about it, so keep trying. Crappie is fair to good on brush piles near creek mouths. Again water is coming into the main lake. Every predatory fish is after large bait balls of shad. Even catfish are spotted hanging out below the bass looking for easy meals.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 343.06 feet msl (full pool: 342.00 feet msl).
(updated 10-24-2018) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said the water is high, the clarity is dingy, but anglers are getting out again. Crappie fishing is best, with jigs getting lots of action. Reports have been good. Bream are poor, as are largemouth bass. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.
(updated 10-17-2018) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) said the water is a little dingy. No surface water temperature was recorded. Water level is high. Crappie are good with a number of anglers getting their limit. Catfish are fair. No baits or areas were mentioned. No reports on bream and no reports on bass.
As of Monday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 573.01 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).
(updated 10-24-2018) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out of state) said black bass are good. Live crawfish and a drop-shot finesse worm are best at this time for spotted bass (Kentucky bass), and some topwater action on flukes or spooks has been good on the west end of the lake. Walleye are good. Try using a CC Spoon near brush for these fish. Stripers are fair on live bait. Major creek mouths and main lake points on the eastern and central parts of the lake are the best for these fish. Bream have slowed, but are still being caught on crickets and worms in 15-25 feet of water near brush. Crappie are good and being caught with jigs or minnows in 15-20 feet of water near brush. Catfish are fair. Cut bait, live bait and stink bait are all producing good bags. Lake conditions are good with the clarity clearing and the water temperature 68-72 degrees. Contact the Mountain Harbor guides – Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717; Chris Darby, 870-867-7822; and Jerry Bean, 501-282-6104 – for more information.
(updated 10-24-2018) Lisa Spencer at Lisa’s Bait Shop (501-778-6944) in Benton said her customers tell her nice crappie are being caught using small No. 4 crappie minnows and Kalin’s 2-inch Grubs in the Tennessee Shad color and Bobby Garland Baby Shad in Blue Thunder color – those have been very popular ones, she says.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 386.44 feet msl (full pool: 384.00 feet msl).
No reports.
(updated 10-24-2018) Natalie Faughn, ranger at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), said she’s heard some good reports from Bear Creek, depending on what you’re fishing for. Folks have been catching some good-size catfish using stink bait and homemade bait. “We have also had some fall bass fishermen out and about this week who have had some luck with various artificial lures, but nothing of notable size. Same bass report for Storm Creek lake down in Phillips County,” she said.
(updated 10-24-2018) See above.
Cook’s Lake
(updated 10-24-2018) The Cook’s Lake fishing season for youth under age 16 and for mobility-impaired anglers has ended. It will resume the first weekend of March 2019. Cook’s Lake is a 2.5 mile long oxbow off of the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas County. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to being used only for education purposes and youth and mobility impaired fishing. The scenic lake is full of slab crappie, giant bluegills, largemouth bass and catfish of all species.
No report.
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