Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

July 25, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Mindy Burns caught this nice 14.5-inch crappie last Sunday on Lake Charles in northeastern Arkansas. She was fishing with a Flicker Shad. With the water dropping below 80 degrees last weekend, all the usual species were responding well at Lake Charles, according to Shelly Jeffrey, a clerk at the park who provided this photo.

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

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

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

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

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

Quick links to regions:

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

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.

NOTE: Lake Conway recently experienced a fish kill due to low oxygen levels. Most fish affected were non-game fish (such as drum, shad and yellow bass), but some game fish also died. Fish kills like this are likely to happen throughout a lake renovation when water levels are low and temperatures are high. Daily limits are still lifted, and harvest of catches is highly encouraged. The AGFC thanks anglers for their support and patience. For more Lake Conway renovation project updates, see https://agfc.attn.tv/aQNV63-BKBEL

(updated 7-18-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said water is back in the lake; it is about full after this week’s major rain event. “We were catching some crappie and catfish before it was real high,” they tell us. The crappie are expected to scatter out now until the water drops and they return back to their usual spots. Minnows are the bait now. “We’ve been selling the fire out of minnows. That’s what they’ve been catching the crappie on.”

Lake Conway has no creel or length limits while the lake is in its drawdown phase as part of the AGFC’s renovation project. All fish may be kept; in fact, it’s encouraged, hence the no limit regulation. Still chances to stock up on crappie and others for the freezer.
Also, the Lake Conway nursery pond is open for fishing with the AGFC stocking various sport fish there. The pond is more than 60 acres and has bass, crappie and bream.

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 7-25-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said Thursday that the generation schedule now at Greers Ferry Dam is: two turbines running, with a 6-7 hours per day of duration, starting around 1 p.m. and running until about 7 p.m.
The consistent generation this week has kept the river flowing nicely in the mornings, making it the perfect time to cast your lines. The best bite has been early morning before it heats up and the water levels drop.
Prime spots are the deeper sections around moss beds and areas with a bit of current and a deep plunge pool. These are producing well. The hot flies are Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear, Midges and San Juan Worms.
“Make sure to get out there early to maximize your chances of landing some great catches before the turbines kick in for the day. Happy fishing, and see you on the river! Click the link above for more information or to book a trip. Tight lines!”

(updated 7-25-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that the Little Red has been fishing better than it has been lately because they have been running water out of Greers Ferry Lake. Trout anglers are mostly catching them on chartreuse-colored Rooster Tails, Marabou Jigs and a small crankbait (like a No. 5 Shad Rap). More fish are being caught on the top and bottom end of the shoals than anywhere else. The fish tend to stay in those spots than on top where it’s warmer or the deeper parts where there isn’t as much current.

Anglers also are catching trout on Carolina-rigged PowerBait in chartreuse or pink.

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 7-25-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the walleye fishing has been good. The fish are concentrating around standing timber at around 25-30 feet of water. Anglers have been catching walleye using bottom bouncer rigs with a nightcrawler on the back, or throwing a nightcrawler on a jighead. The bass fishing, though, has been hit or miss. Early mornings and late evenings are best for the bass anglers because of the pleasure boating throughout the day on the lake. Successful anglers are targeting schooling fish, throwing clear Zara Spooks, small swimbaits and the like. 

Water clarity is clear and the lake level is normal.

(updated 7-25-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is steady over the past week and at 462.54 feet msl, right on the mark for normal pool. Not much else has changed other than more and more fish are coming up on top schooling in different parts of the lake and rivers. Power generation has picked up in recent weeks with the Southwestern Power Administration generating 4-5 hours in afternoons, which will help oxygenation in the lake and the river below the dam as well. It will also help with the bite as well — all species of game fish are eating off and on at opportune times. Most species now are getting and staying out where they will summer at and staying on structure where you can really work on them. 

For crappie, try super shallow and out to 30 feet and use jigs, minnows or crankbaits. A lot of fish are migrating to cooler areas in timber where a lot of bait will spend the summer, so fishing straight up and down is a must when seeking crappie. Walleye are eating in the main lake, and for the few that are left up rivers, drag a crawler or crankbait in 28-50 feet. Some walleye are following under big schools of white bass and hybrid bass — use a spoon for those. And, just like crappie, it’s time for a lot of them to head to the timber and hang out for the rest of summer into fall, as water is a little cooler and more bait fish are there as well. A spoon is best for that vertical fishing in 10-50 feet. 

Hybrid striped bass and white bass are setting up in main lake for the summer, while a few are still roaming and schooling on top. For the ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. Catfish have started showing up more regularly, and the usual catfish baits are working in the lake and rivers. Some bream are shallow but most are still around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers are working fine for them, as well as inline spinners. Some loner black bass are shallow, but most are out or roaming shallow and schooling. Use Carolina rig, topwater lures, wake baits, drop-shots, crankbaits and spinnerbaits for best action super shallow out to 60 feet. Be safe and wear your life jacket.

Harris Brake Lake
(updated 7-25-2024) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said people have caught a lot of catfish lately. Trotlines are being baited with minnows and some cut bait, and that’s paying off for a few regulars around the lake. One regular caught 10 one day and six the next, including a few flatheads that were around 15 pounds. 

Bream are doing “pretty good,” they say. People are catching a lot of bream off the bank on redworms and crickets, and the full moon this past weekend helped. An angler also reported catching some crappie in the deeper area of the lake; he suggested 10 feet or more depth and fishing with minnows. The crappie he caught were in the 13- to 14-inch size.

Bass are slow with no reports coming in the past couple of weeks.

The water clarity on Thursday was muddy. The lake is at a normal level. Harris Brake received some rain earlier this week and more is expected in coming days, they say. So, expect to target bream or catfish.

Lake Overcup
(updated 7-11-2024) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing off Arkansas Highway 9 said the lake’s water level is about 2 feet high from 5 inches of rain. Clarity is murky at best but clearing quickly. Surface temperature is around 85 degrees.
Bass are doing well on Cajun Spin and buzzbaits and plastic worms. 

Crappie are in the deeper water; nobody has been fishing for them lately. 

Catfish are doing well on trotlines and jugs using bass minnows and bream.

Bream were doing well on crickets and redworms before all this water. One family came out and caught 130 in about 5 hours.

Brewer Lake
(update 7-18-2024) David Hall at Dad’s Bait Shop (501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, said, “The lake is sitting at normal water level, and a lot of people are coming throughout the day. Anglers have been having the best luck for crappie and catfish around the dam area. Bass fishing has been reported to be at its best in the late afternoon or evenings. For crappie it seems that tri-color jigs are doing the trick for most anglers on the boats, with a white Rooster Tail working for bass.

Lake Maumelle
(updated 7-25-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) said water has been consistently in the 85- to 87-degree range, not bad for mid-July. The largemouth bass continue to bite well. Anglers still report bass schooling in the mornings and evenings. They can be found shallow in the mornings and evenings at 2-4 feet, with others being found deeper, 12-20 feet. Try points and drop-offs, and use drop-shots, Texas-rigged worms, topwater baits, jigs and crankbaits. Spotted bass are good, too, making the black bass bite good in general. Reports have the Kentucky bass around points in 8-20 feet as well as relating to drop-offs. Use those drop-shots and crankbaits for spots, too. The black bass bite in the Tuesday night weekly tournament continues to be good for those anglers, with Cody Bryant and Brad Lequieu pulling in a 16.06-pound, five-bass stringer, edging Brad Edwards and Billy Wright, whose 15.94-pound stringer included the Big Bass of a whopping 7.26 pounds.

Crappie was just fair this last week. Still hearing of crappie being found suspended around brush anywhere from 16-21 feet with decent size to them. Jigs and minnows are steadily getting their attention. Bream are good and there were reports before the full moon of them being in prespawn/spawn mode. Look for them around 6-10 feet of water as well as in shallow areas at 3-5 feet. Most of the anglers this last week were fishing in 16 feet of water and casting toward the shoreline. Anglers are using crickets, worms and drop-shots.
Catfish finally made an appearance, or at least were reported by the angers. There has been fair fishing from the shoreline with bream, liver and worms. No reports on white bass, but you can always try a twister tail to get their attention.

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 7-25-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said fishing has been pretty good this week. Water is clear and at a normal pool. The surface water temperature was about 78-79 degrees earlier this week, he says.

The black bass were “on fire,” he said, seeing it firsthand himself earlier this week. “Don’t know what the deal was, but they were biting. Bream, same thing. People are catching a lot of big bream. The people here at the marina are still catching catfish on hotdogs. Still not much on the crappie, it’s just here and there.”

Topwater baits or soft plastic worms are suggest for bass. Bass are in 2-3 feet of water after the water cooled down from last week’s front. Crickets and redworms are both working for bream. With the full moon through the past weekend, the bream were biting in the middle of the day up shallow (2 feet of water or less).

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 7-25-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports that the bass fishing has been tougher because of summer heat. You can catch some, they say, but the fish are mostly little ones.

Anglers are having best success catching them on small crankbaits like Bandit 200 or Bandit 300 Series. Best colors are something in a shad pattern, and chartreuses have been doing well — such as a chartreuse blue back or chartreuse black back. Anglers are mostly targeting ends of jetties or sand drops on the main river. For fishing a bottom bait in those same areas, throw a Texas-rigged worm or shaky head worm. 

Early or late, a bone-colored Zara Spook is a good bait to try at the ends of jetties. If you’re working around the grass, a small buzzbait has been doing really well.

They have heard nothing on crappie. Catfish are biting below the Murray Lock and Dam on nightcrawlers.

The water level is pretty level, the clarity is stained (definitely not muddy now). 

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 7-18-2024) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said anglers say that “right now the hot species of the lake are the catfish and bream.” As for crappie, some are having success trolling and others are spider-rigging underwater structure for bites.

Catfish are biting hot dogs and liver, and also some live bait such as shiners, shad and bream are great to use. 

Early morning and evening topwater is working now for the black bass. Donna also said, “Right now it seems that the bass anglers are the ones that are rarely left empty-handed.”
Bream have seen an increase in overall activity, the full moon playing its part. Crickets and worms are the most popular bait for bream.

“We’re level full and a little dingy, but not that bad. About normal for Peckerwood,” she said of the water conditions.

White River
(updated 7-25-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said school will be back in session in a few short weeks. A day on the river offers the opportunity to spend some quiet, one-on-one time with your kids before the mad dash through another school year. You could be enjoying early morning temperatures in the 60s, some great trout-catching action and memories that will last a lifetime. When the afternoons warm up, just dip your cap in the river or wet a hand towel in the cold clear water, lay it across your shoulders and keep angling.

Bull Shoals Lake elevation measured 661.99 feet msl Wednesday with morning releases continuing at around one unit (3,000 cfs) before rising to 12,000 cfs or more in late afternoon. The lake is nearly back to power pool level after the massive rain experienced a week ago and the water clarity in the White River is very good.
“Browns have been hiding in the deep holes, coming out to the call of a sculpin or a crawdad tail. Rainbows are less picky; they’re always attracted to the pink and white PowerBait mouse tail worms and they’ll nibble at shrimp and live redworms when the water is rising. It’s fun to drop a D2 Trout Magnet peachy jig, one-eighth ounce is best, and see what comes up.
“Stop in and say ‘hey’ when you’re in town. Enjoy the day.”

(updated 7-25-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “The storms last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning a week ago caused the river at Calico Rock to rise to almost 18 feet, just 1 foot below flood level but up into our parking lot. All day last Wednesday we saw a lot of debris floating down the muddy river. By Wednesday evening the river had crested and by Thursday morning the river was back to a more normal level. The river remained muddy through Friday and was fishable again by Saturday.
“On Saturday the fishing was tough to catch a limit. Using a silver inline spinner and corn worked best. Fishing was better by Sunday. 

“Early this week the river conditions were good, with morning levels at around 8 feet when the water from Bull Shoals Dam’s previous day generation reach us. Water would drop and then see a slight rise with the water from Norfork Dam’s morning generation reaching us. Silver inline spinners with Uncommon Bait UV Eggs and corn worked well. Some fishermen had success using 1/16-ounce jigs in dark colors.”

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 7-25-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Wednesday that the lake level is around 661 feet msl. Water temperature is around 85 degrees, give or take; it is warmer in the stained water. Bass are set up on summer areas and patterns. The thermocline is at 30-32 feet. Shad are spread out from the back of the creeks out to the main lake. Check deeper water, points, ledges, drop-offs and channel swings or saddles that are close to deep water.
“The topwater bite has been random! If you try topwater fishing, smaller sizes are working best for me, a Zara Spook, Pop-R, Lucky Craft Gunfish, wake baits in shad patterns. As the sun gets up, the bite will definitely slow down. Try a Flutter Spoon; that will keep the bite going. Once the sun gets up, a lot the fish will move into piles and ledges. They can be stubborn. Try a drop-shot or Jewel Scuba or big worm — if you get one to bite you might as well go to next pile. These fish can be tougher to fire; finesse will help. You can still catch them off points with a small Jewel Peewee Jig in green pumpkin orange or PB&J, or a tube or a shaky head, in 10-20 feet early, then 25-30 feet. Keep the boat out for deep, long casts. There is a lot of activity around the 30-feet range.
“Overall, summer patterns are here and suspended fish in large groups are roaming. If you can find them with the front looker, you can get right in a hurry.”
Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report) for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake.

(updated 7-25-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says fishing for walleye has been fair on the lower end of lake. They are pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 30-35 feet slowly, .8 to .9 mph, with 2-ounce bottom bouncers on the sides of primary and secondary points. Fishing with No. 1.5 Smile Butterfly Blades in gold or orange and chartreuse with orange bead patterns is working. Also, still just a No. 4 split shot and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and a nightcrawler, worked slowly around groups of fish or on deeper sides of brush piles, will catch some. Lots of fish in the 16- to 17-inch size are still being caught at this time.
Spooning with a three-quarter-ounce white spoon in water off main lake points in 30-35 feet will also get some fish. 

(updated 7-25-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are starting to show up on a little deeper brush piles in that 25- to 30-feet range in the creeks. They are also still finding a lot in the 20-feet range scattered in the creek arms “and I have seen this all over the lake the last week, the quality is still pretty mixed up and the bluegill have also appeared since the lake dropped, so that can be a whole another challenge if they’re above the crappie. The jig bite is been OK but you will have to really be patient. I’ve been throwing a 1/32-ounce with a Tater Shad Jr. in a variety of colors and, of course, minnows. Quality seems to be deeper in the brush.”

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

(updated 7-25-2024) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort (870-492-5113) had no new reports, but he posts fishing reports nearly every day to his blog on the Hummingbird Hideaway Resort webpage.

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

(updated 7-25-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake is still continuing its summer drawdown. Levels now at 1,119.12 feet msl and that is 3 feet below normal pool level.
“Best bite going right now is the early morning striper bite,” he said. “Guides have been catching near limits and limits daily. It is a very early morning bite, which is done by 8:30 a.m. or so. So, if targeting stripers, be fishing before sunrise. Shad, if you can find them, are the hot bait as usual. Brood minnows also work but not quite as good as shad. Also this time of the year, bluegill will work.
“Walleye have been consistent for my clients the last week. Walleye have been on most major points and are set up in 25 feet of water. Crawler harnesses and trolled crankbaits are working. You must use some method to get them down to that depth, whether lead core line or down-riggers or snap weights. Flicker Shad in pink have been the hit colors for my clients for the last couple of weeks.
“Crappie are suspended and also attached to brush in the 20- to 25-feet range. You can troll this time of the year and do well. Look for flats adjacent to main river channels.
“Catfish are hammering our trolled cranks so I know that bite is good, especially if you target them. Bluegill always there and willing to participate. Great for young and old anglers who want some action.
“Stay hydrated and safe. Lots of boat traffic! Good luck!”
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

(updated 7-18-2024) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said that “The water conditions are very good for summertime.”. Stripers are the number one species being caught on a day to day basis. Blue minnows, and shad are the best bait for this time of year. He said “Bass is a hit or miss, but if you can find a cooler day in the week that would be the time to get out there.”. People have reported catching Crappie on brush piles if you can find them, with most using a LiveScope. 

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 7-25-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) says, “How about those cooler July temperatures!? Made for some great days to be out on the water. Fishing these past two weeks has been pretty good. You may have to move around a bit, but the bite does pick up as you do so.
“Most fish have been caught between Houseman access and (the U.S.) Highway 62 bridge. The trout have been very responsive to Pautzke Fire Worms and Eggs, fished on bottom, with slight movement. This is also the bait and presentation of choice when drift-fishing. Also Fire Bait, with light terminal tackle, has also produced nice numbers. You can also try pulling crankbaits in the deeper water for some bigger fish. 

“The water temperature has been up and down, but the Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water to keep the tailwater cool. There are still some here-and-there walleye being caught; most are being caught in the deeper hole, jigging with soft plastics, like the Pautzke Fire Minnow. If you find the slime line, you will notice quite the temperature change along with a change in the bite. Hope you all are able to get out and catch some fish!” 

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

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 7-11-2024) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) says catfish have started moving around after the rain earlier in the week and anglers reported a few bites Wednesday. Bream are still good on redworms. A couple of anglers were fishing them with crickets too, but reported that redworms were working better. If you know what you’re doing on Lake Fayetteville with the crappie and their usual locales, you can catch them — regulars reported a few smaller crappie being caught. Black bass have been really good this week on soft plastic worms and on a little topwater, but mostly the plastics.

Lake Charles
(updated 7-25-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water temperature earlier this week was still in the comfortable below-80s range, with morning reading of 77 degrees, and bream, crappie, black bass and catfish were responding well.

Bream, she said, are hitting baits thrown by anglers from the shore. The fish have been small. She also had a few reports of some nice bass. Lots of boats were on the lake over the weekend looking for biting fish, but she heard no mention of baits used to catch bass. The black bass were relating to brush and rocky points.

Bream and catfish are still biting on worms. Crappie are liking jigs, and one guest at the lake reported catching a 14-inch crappie using Flicker Shad while targeting a cove. Look around brush piles, stumps and rocky points now for crappie.
Catfish are taking to worms, chicken liver, blood bait and stink bait and will bite lines (trotlines, limb lines). Bream are excited by the full moon and are going after worms, crickets and jigs. They’re also shallow and relating to brush piles, stumps and rock points.

No reports on white bass.
The lake is high, but the cooler weather and water temperature are making it nice. The clarity is the usual murky.

Shelly reminds anglers who follow the “moon times” that Aug. 1-7 are considered the best days to fish Lake Charles, while good days should be Aug. 16-22, she added. 

Lake Poinsett
(updated 7-11-2024) Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park said that even with the heat and rain left over from Beryl, Lake Poinsett has had numerous anglers out and about. Bream are still biting pretty well, according to reports. Anglers are mostly using live bait of crickets or worms. Bass and crappie continue to be catch-and-release, but reports of catches have been decent for the crappie; bass, not so much. Anglers have reported several-pound crappie and have expressed excitement for them eventually to be able to keep them. Primarily, anglers have been fishing early mornings and into the evenings (even with the mosquitoes).

Spring River
(updated 7-18-2024) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water level is at 350 cfs and water clarity is mostly clear. Plenty of rain over the last few months can change river conditions quickly. This week the river is looking great and has been back down to an average flow rate. With the heat, it has been very refreshing on the river. 

With the heat of summer on, fishing early and late in the day is key. If you’re hot and miserable, the fish are too. The rainbows have been hitting great with plenty of stockers and an occasional big ’bow rolling up. Seeing a few big brown trout, not many. Hopper droppers can work great when water is clear, with nymphs, worms or Y2Ks as the dropper. On the off-water days an olive Woolly or a Y2K/Mop Fly can work well. On the tough days, it’s all about getting the fly to the bottom.
Smallmouth bass have been the fish to chase lately. The high water makes it tough to get the bite on at times; the trick is to fish deep and slow for them — down on the bottom of the river in all the many rocks the Spring River has. “Lead Eye or Cone Head Woolies, Skull Heads and crayfish patterns always work. On good days, Clouser and baitfish patterns can be a blast. If we fish topwater, we usually run a dropper. Plenty of fish will hit it looking at the popper.
“Saturdays have been busy with floaters. The prime time to fish is through the week and on Sunday.
“Plenty of rain lately — it is summer and it will dry out. As the heat turns on, don’t forget the cold waters of the Spring River! Fifty-eight degrees all year!”

Check out Mark’s blog for the latest river conditions on the Spring River on his website linked above.

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 7-25-2024) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reports water temperature in the upper 80s, mild flow on the main channel and visibility up to 12 inches. Recent rains have cooled the water slightly and the black bass are biting well. White bass, striped bass and black bass can be found schooling occasionally near jetties on the main channel, and sand flats within Lake Langhofer. Poppers, small walking baits, small swimbaits and lipless crankbaits in reflective or shad colors do well within schooling activity. Otherwise, focus on current breaks along the main channel with shallow crankbaits, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits (mainly in the morning and evening) in shad colors. Swim jigs are producing in vegetation or cover too thick for crankbaits. Better quality fish can be caught by focusing more on dark-colored finesse jigs near current breaks or woody cover/brush piles, though expect fewer bites with this approach. 

Cane Creek Lake
(updated 7-25-2024) Claire Humes at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said anglers were fishing with crickets and livery at the exterior pier for bream on Wednesday. Before that, the last she’d heard from anglers was over the weekend. Minnows were being fished last Thursday and redworms for anything on Friday. Crickets were the choice of anglers on Saturday, along with nightcrawlers, from the piers or from boats. Another group caught several small bream on Saturday and were using nightcrawlers and worms from the inside pier. A few tried with crickets at the exterior pier for bream the same day.

Lake Monticello
(updated 7-25-2024) Anglers are reminded that if they venture out for some fishing on Lake Monticello now while the lake continues to refill after being renovated, that all fish caught must be released immediately.
The city of Monticello has opened Hunger Run Access to boat traffic. Reports are good of anglers catching 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 7-25-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District began lowering Millwood Lake on July 15 to improve shoreline vegetation and promote sediment compaction. The drawdown will expose an extensive area of shoreline for revegetation to allow the planting of millet, which promotes water quality, increases fish production and provides habitat for wintering waterfowl. The lake will be held near an elevation of 257.2 feet until Sept. 13 when it will be raised 6 inches. The lake will be raised to its normal conservation pool of 259.2 feet by Nov. 1. Boaters are encouraged to wear a life jacket and exercise caution during the drawdown as submerged stumps and shallow areas will be more prominent, especially in boat lanes. For more information, contact the Millwood Project Office at 870-898-3343.

Also, the AGFC recently stocked the remaining 120,000 pure-bred Florida bass fingerlings from the hatchery into Millwood Lake last week, Mike notes. The total Florida bass fingerlings stocked this year is 300,000. Mike says his spreadsheet indicates the AGFC has stocked a cumulative total of 6,751,252 Florida bass into Millwood Lake since 1990.

Millwood elevation is stable during the 2-feet drawdown, holding at 257.2 feet msl, and Millwood Lake Dam is releasing about 700 cfs; the tailwater is holding near 226 feet msl. Check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide service’s website linked above, or on the Army Corps of Engineers website or app.

Surface temps are stable, ranging 87 degrees early to 93 degrees later in the day along Little River, depending on location and the time of day. Clarity along Little River continues improving with decreased river current. Normal to moderate stain is found in most locations; some areas further up Little River are heaviest stain, with river clarity ranging 5-8 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility of the oxbows will vary widely from normal stained to good visibility from 20-30 inches.

Mike provided these specifics of the fishing this week on Millwood:
* The best bite of the day for largemouth bass over the past few weeks continues to be from dawn to around 9 a.m. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River, where the thermocline resides between 10-15 feet, are holding nice groups of largemouths. Bass for the past several weeks have been active early up to 2-4 pounds on topwaters, and cloud-cover mornings continue to see the best activity starting at dawn. Feeding activity levels have slowed with the increase of surface temperature in the mid- to low-90-degree range over the past couple weeks. 

Best baits drawing early morning reactions continue to be buzzbaits, soft plastic frogs, Cordell Crazy Shads, Baby Torpedoes and Chuggers fished near pads and vegetation. Buzzbait colors drawing the best reactions are black/blue, Hot Firecracker or Hot Cotton Candy. The best buzzbait bite working is along Little River depths and drops across points, and also flats near creek channel swings, with stumps and laydowns and around lily pads. Chuggers, Cordell Crazy Shads, Arbogast Jitterbugs and plastic frogs continue working in the slop — all are getting fair to good reactions in creek channels near stumps, cypress trees and near lily pads stands along Little River. Topwater activity levels drop off after 9-10 a.m. Then there is very little topwater activity until dusk.

After the topwater action diminishes, a fairly decent and random bite can be had near creek dumps into Little River with a custom painted, shad pattern, shallow-running square-bill crankbait, 2.0 & 3.0 & S-cranks and Bill Lewis Echo 1.75s by deflecting and banging/deflecting them off stumps from 8-10 feet deep in creek channels and points. Bass around 14-15 inches in length are randomly responding to crankbaits in shad and bream colors. Best color of cranks in the oxbows for the past couple weeks or so have been the Bold Bluegill, Millwood Magic and Ghost. Increasing size up to a three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Trap, fished much slower and deeper, will draw a few random hits during late mornings in creek channels and across points converging with Little River. Best colors of Traps over the past week or so have been Millwood Magic and White Smoke.

The drawdown is pulling a lot of fish to the mouths of creeks. Working crankbaits in a stop-and-go slow retrieve will draw a better reaction than fast retrieves. The drawdown will bring the majority of largemouths to creek mouths and points meeting up with Little River in short order. 

Several groups of juvenile schooling bass have been found in Horseshoe and McGuire oxbows up Little River over the past week around daybreak. Largemouths, spotted bass and white bass have been randomly schooling over the past week in various locations at dawn running river shad. Kastmaster and Cordell spoons, Rat-L-Traps and Little Georges all were catching the surface schoolers over the past week. These fish appear to be juvenile and adolescent in age distribution, ranging in size from 1-2.5 pounds each.

Schools of spots and largemouths feeding on river shad in Little River behind points and washouts will hit vertical-jigged spoons with abandon once the topwater bite subsides late in the morning. We have been using Cotton Cordell Hammered Spoons over the past couple weeks with added bucktails. Some mornings a white bucktail is best, and it seems like on cloudy mornings that a red bucktail works better. You’ll find the most aggressive feeders between Jack’s Isle and Hurricane Creek along Little River, in 10-15 foot of depth where broken timber and stumps are. Hurricane Creek had some spoon-feeding bass early one morning last week, and surface-schooling Kentucky bass and white bass were around for several days where bends of creeks contained deeper water in the 10- to 15-feet depth range.
* White bass continue hitting vertical-jigged half-ounce to 1-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. Little River has improved clarity, and the bite over the past couple weeks and the reduced current has clarity much improved on primary or secondary points. White bass are roaming back down Little River to their summer spots in the main lake, but pausing on these points in the process, and roaming in and out of creek dumps, too. With the drawdown in effect, many whites are found in close proximity to the Kentucky (spotted bass) and largemouth bass, all feeding on threadfin shad.

Heavy three-quarter-ounce Cordell Hammered Spoons, Kastmaster chrome/blue spoons with white bucktails, or Bomber Fat Free Guppy or Fingerling crankbaits, and the Bill Lewis MR-6 Crankbaits in Citrus Shad, Tennessee Shad and Millwood Magic colors will draw reactions from white bass. Little George’s, Rocket Shads and red/white Rooster Tails continue to work.
* Crappie continue to improve with water clarity improving in many locations. Locating planted brush piles in Pugh Slough, Horseshoe, Bee Lake, Millwood State Park or Saratoga continue to hold nice 12- to 15-inch crappie, and gave up some nice 2-pound slabs over the past few weeks. Minnows may work one day, jigs the next. Also try jigs tipped with a minnow, and fish these in planted brush piles at 10-16 feet of depth. Best colors for jigs over the past few weeks have been chartreuse/blue, chartreuse/black, Monkey Milk or Electric Chicken. Cordell smoke-colored grubs with a chartreuse tip tail on a light wire jighead will pick up a few extra bites.
* We are getting good reports of large Mason bream and bluegills biting well at the Millwood State Park and at Jack’s Isle over the past week using redworms and crickets. These aggressive bream were biting from the bank and the floating dock from 4-8 feet of depth.

* No report on catfish.

Lake Columbia
No reports.

Lake Erling
No reports.

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

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

No reports.

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

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

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

White Oak Lake Area
No reports.

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

(updated 7-25-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 63 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has scheduled 8-hour generation times during the week with special periods of flow on the weekends for downstream activities. Tailrace conditions are very good for this time of year as moss and grass growth has been kept at a minimum by the consistent flow of water from the dam. Rainbow trout fishing has hit rock bottom with experienced guides recording zero catches around the dam to the bridge. This occurs every year around this time, but was forced earlier by the flooding in the spring that displaced thousands of trout downstream that never returned.
Trout fishing will return to the area in November when the stocking schedule resumes for the fall season.

Thousands of threadfin shad have migrated into the tailrace in high schools. These baitfish are easily spotted as they congregate near the top of the water column. Striper and hybrid bass activity has been observed in the early morning times, which intensifies during times of generation.

Anglers can catch numbers of fish casting topwater lures into areas of activity, such as Zara Spooks and Alabama rigs that closely match the size of the shad. Too large of a presentation has been ignored and rarely produces results.
Summertime fishing reports below Carpenter Dam usually resemble a broken record with the absence of rainbow trout and the walleye, crappie, white bass and catfish spawn complete. The doldrums of summer heat go on for months in Arkansas and it appears that a void is created in the area for catchable fish. There will be times where good numbers of white and hybrid bass feed near the dam due to the huge numbers of shad present and anglers will have to be diligent in the search for these fish as action is short-lived and sporadic. Big stripers move in and out of the tailrace seeking cooler water and forage, and can be seen feeding below the bridge in deeper water in the main channel.
Always wear a life jacket when on the water and remember to follow all park and boating regulations as law enforcement is present and checking for violations. 

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

(updated 7-18-2024) Seth Boone, superintendent at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7474), reported that Lake Dardanelle has had some tough fishing the last few weeks with the heat and low water. Black bass seem to be deeper and more likely to be caught while breaking on shad. White bass seem to be doing well around shad spawns in shallow water. Anglers appear to be catching them on spoons and jigs. Catfish are doing OK on chicken liver and worms in the deeper water. “Crappie, I have had no word on,” he said. “Bream are doing well on crickets and worms.”

Lake Hamilton
No reports.

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 7-11-2024) Sheila Ferrebee, owner of Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025), says a lot of catfish are being caught. Quite a few anglers are out trying for crappie. Some who know the spots are having good luck (one angler caught 16 crappie in the brush); others are not — the lake is in a drawdown until October. Anglers are buying pounds and pounds of No. 6 crappie minnows.

A catfish angler had six or seven flathead catfish in the boat, one of which was 52 pounds measured at the dock. Try goldfish or other live bait for the catfish.

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 7-25-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are fair. Try a topwater bait near main lake and secondary points or a Texas-rigged Ole Monster worm near brush. Walleye are good and being caught on nightcrawlers near structure with a drop-shot rig or a minnow like jig.

Stripers are still good. These fish are being caught in the eastern portions of the lake and can be caught on umbrella rigs or live bait. Bream are very good and being caught on crickets and worms in the 15- to 25-feet range. Crappie are fair. Try minnows or small jigs over structure in the 20- to 40-feet range. For catfish, try stink bait or cut bait on a rod-and-reel set up in the 15- to 25-feet range, especially near structure and brush.
Water temperature has dropped some, ranging 82-86 degrees. The clarity is clear. Lake level is still on a slight fall and Wednesday was 575.17 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.

Horseshoe Lake
(updated 7-3-2024) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) says the fishing has been unchanged for a couple of weeks now. The water looks good for this time of year and is a little low. 

“For crappie, it’s the same ol’ song,” he said. “The fish just don’t seem interested in any bait. LiveScope shows fish, but it is difficult at best to get them to bite. One trip this week we had 12 fish over 10 inches caught. The pads seem to be the same. Smaller fish are biting, but just a few of them. Hopefully things will change in the upcoming weeks.”

He had no reports on bass, catfish or bream.

Cook’s Lake
(updated 7-25-2024) The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) says fishing is still open for youth and mobility-impaired anglers on Fridays and Saturdays but the ones who have fished have hardly even gotten a nibble. Now we are dealing with a quick rise in the water levels due to the heavy rains north of us last week. “Maybe it will pick up before we close for the season.”
Cook’s Lake is nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Arkansas County. This fertile oxbow has slab crappie, black bass, bream and every species of catfish and receives very little fishing pressure due to being used only for education purposes and youth and mobility-impaired fishing. Cook’s Lake is open to fishing for youths under 16 or mobility-impaired anglers who must possess the AGFC mobility-impaired access permit, and up to two guests (who may also fish), during the specified fishing season. Fish from the 140-foot mobility-impaired accessible dock or launch a boat. Fishing will be allowed only on Fridays and Saturday through August, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., water level pending. Before launching, please check in at the Nature Center classroom and report back before leaving. For information or unscheduled closures, please call the center at 501-404-2321.

White River/Arkansas River (Pool 2)
(updated 7-25-2024) Webb’s Sporting Goods (870-946-0347) in DeWitt reported that in the Arkansas River, bass are biting well on shallow-running crankbaits near rock pilings. Crappie are biting 15-20 feet depth near structures.

In the White River off the sandbars, all species of catfish are biting well.

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