Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

August 8, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Sky Haack from Omaha, Arkansas, hauled in this impressive, 25-inch walleye while fishing the Beaver Lake tailwater recently with guide Austin Kennedy. With occasional releases of water into the tailwater to keep it cool enough, the trout and walleye bite is still good, Austin says.

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.

(updated 8-1-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said minnows are the bait now. “We’ve been selling the fire out of minnows. That’s what they’ve been catching the crappie on.” Crappie and catfish are still being caught in decent numbers. Water level is like a yo-yo at the lake with rainfall making it rise noticeably, then it falls out with a few days of no rain.

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 8-8-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said Thursday that the Southwestern Power Administration has been keeping a consistent generation schedule, with water releases usually kicking off around 1 p.m. and running until about 8 p.m. They’ve been running two units through the turbines like clockwork, and despite the daily temperatures soaring into the 90s, the fish are happy and the bite has been solid.

The morning bite has been particularly productive. As the water recedes from the previous night’s generation, it creates ideal conditions for drift-fishing from the boat. “I’ve been rigging up with Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles and Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear — both have been performing exceptionally well.

“As the water level drops, I’ve been switching over to a Rootbeer Midge dropper setup beneath the same flies. This setup has been especially effective in the deeper sections of water, particularly along the moss beds. Don’t forget to give the oxygenated shoals a try, too. They’ve been holding some nice fish lately.

“Tight lines, and see you on the river! For guided trips and more info reach out at the number or website listed above.”

(updated 8-8-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that the anglers are doing most of their fishing early in the morning and late in the evening with success. Trout Magnets and Marabou Jigs seem to be the baits of choice. Your target for a successful trip catching both rainbows and brown trout should be fishing anywhere you can find the top end or bottom end of a shoal with water moving and rippling.

Anglers are seeing a little more consistency in the water coming from the dam lately.

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 8-8-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that the water level is normal and water clarity is clear. Most of the bass fishing has been going on early in the mornings or late evenings. Anglers are chasing after schooling fish, which are going after bait around standing timber or out in the middle of a creek. Mostly guys are throwing topwater baits like a clear Zara Spook or a clear Super Spook. Also, a clear Pop-R is working.

They’re hearing of anglers catching a lot of crappie lately on either a live minnow or a 2-inch swimbait. The crappie can be found suspended in timber in 20-25 feet of water. Also, anglers are reporting catching decent numbers of walleye by throwing a nightcrawler in 25-40 feet of water. This fish also are relating to the standing timber.

(updated 8-8-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 461.18 feet msl, 1.36 feet below normal pool of 462.54 for this time of year. Not much else has changed other than more fish coming up on top schooling in different parts of the lake and rivers. Power generation has picked up with the Southwestern Power Administration generating 4-5 hours in the afternoon, which will help oxygenation in the lake and the Little Red River below as well. Also it will help with the bite for all species of game fish as are eating off and on at opportune times. Now most species are getting and staying out where they will summer, staying on structure where you can work on them.
Try super shallow and out to 30 feet for crappie and use jigs, minnows or crankbaits. Many 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 fishing for these. Walleye are eating in the main lake, with a few still left up in rivers and scattered throughout the lake. Drag crawler or crankbait in 28-50 feet of water. Some walleye are following under big schools of whites and hybrids; 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 the rest of summer into fall as water is cooler and more bait fish are there as well. A spoon is best for that vertical fishing required now, targeting 10-50 feet.
Next week I will detail the history of our walleye fishery that was taught to me by Carl Perrin, a past biologist for 30 years here. He was first and foremost in the way our walleye fishery was managed, the reason we have two different-acting species in the lake now, and the reason we have a bigger population of walleye in the south end of the lake. Stay tuned.
Hybrid bass and white bass are trying to get set up in the main lake for the summer, and some are roaming and schooling on top. But ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swim baits in 25-60 feet of water. The usual stuff is working in the lakes and rivers for catfish as more show up. Some bream are shallow but most still around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers are working fine as well as inline spinners. Some solo black bass are but most are out or roaming shallow and schooling; use Carolina rigs, topwater lures, wake baits, drop-shots, crankbaits and spinnerbaits for best action 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.

Brewer Lake
(update 8-8-2024) David Hall at Dad’s Bait Shop (501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, had no report this week, but his most recent report in late July said that anglers were having the best luck for crappie and catfish around the dam area. Bass fishing was reported to be best in the late afternoon or evenings. For crappie the tri-color jigs were doing the trick for most anglers on the boats, with a white Rooster Tail working for bass.

Lake Maumelle
(updated 8-8-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) said water temperature has warmed some and is ranging 88-90 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair. Anglers report the bass schooling in the mornings and evenings. They can be found shallow in the mornings and evenings around 2-4 feet with others being found deeper, in 12-20 feet depth. Try points and drop-offs with drop-shots, Texas-rigged worms, topwater baits, jigs and crankbaits. Spotted bass are good. There are reports of them being found on points in 8-20 feet depth as well as around drop-offs. Drop-shots and crankbaits are working best for those.
The black bass bite overall this week may be best reflected by the Tuesday night tournament results, with totals falling back from the recent big catches. Andrew Wooley and Cameron Nesterenko found five bass this week that weighed a total of 14.37 pounds to win, while Josh Jeffers and Josh Baker pulled in the Big Bass of 4.41 pounds as part of a 12.22-pound stringer for second place.
Crappie are fair. Anglers report crappie being found suspended around brush anywhere from 16-21 feet depth. The crappie caught here in midsummer have had some decent size to them. Use jigs and minnows. Bream are good. They still seem to be in spawning/prespawn mode. They can be found around 6-10 feet as well as shallow in 3-5 feet. Most anglers are fishing for them in 16 feet of water casting toward the shoreline. Use crickets, worms and drop-shots.
Catfish have been fair. Shoreline fishing is where it’s at for the cats these days. Try using bream, liver or worms. White bass have been slow for weeks. Nobody has seem any schooling. Toss a twister tail to see if you can get a bite.

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 8-8-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is normal level and clear, and the temperature has been nice for fishing. It was ranging 82-84 degrees earlier in the week and “it may be lower today,” he said Thursday afternoon.

Black bass are still going well “on the same stuff,” he said. It’s a real good bite early in the day and late in the evening. Use crankbaits, topwater lures and soft-plastic worms for best success.

“I had a guy come in a little while ago with a mess of crappie,” Ray said. “He caught them deep on minnows.” He adds that catfish are being caught on hot dogs around the docks, and he figures you can catch them on chicken liver, too. He’s heard little on the bream but adds that they are always biting decently there.

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 8-8-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports the fishing has been tougher because there has not been a lot of flow in the river lately. But there is a lot of baitfish out there and for some folks that can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to compete with the baitfish when the black bass have so much from which to choose.

The trick, they say, is to downsize your bait now — “match the hatch” in a way, they say, so your offering looks like everything else out there. A small Strike King 1.0 square bill has been doing really well of late. Also, a small quarter-ounce spinnerbait with smaller blades would be a good bait to try.

Also, other than trying for the bass that are feeding on shad, a shaky head fished on the bottom has done well this week, they say. Also, a small, compact finesse jig is a solid choice for the river now.

The water clarity is stained and the level is normal. It’s not a complete lake look, they advise — there will be periodic bursts of current from the dam, but more often than not there is little water flow lately.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 8-8-2024) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said that most recently the hot species were the catfish and bream. As for crappie, some anglers were having success trolling and others were 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.

White River
(updated 8-8-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said trout fishing on the White River below Bull Shoals Dam should be especially pleasurable this week — after a couple of weeks of brutal heat, we’re enjoying a week of cooler temperatures just before the kids kick off the new school year.
“I’m hesitant to say a daily pattern has developed, but each morning we arrive to very low water, minimum flow, and it continues to drop until we see the arrival of the afternoon releases. Here in Cotter we don’t see the increase until about 5:30 p.m. Having said that, watch for a change. The lake is continuing to drop; elevation is 659.54 feet msl, 2 feet below desired power pool.

“Anglers kept the bait near the bottom with a 3/16-ounce sinker, and the rainbows snatched when they detected a little shrimp or fresh crawdad meat on the hook. Try jigging a red wiggler or a white skirted 1/8-ounce jig for a flurry of action. Pink-colored Power Eggs have been a favorite this week for both shore fishers and anglers in boats.

“The browns are still biting at sculpins and soft-shell crawdads, but we’ve had a lot of fun and success with Rapala’s new Elite Series Countdowns. Always have a ruby midge handy on the White when casting flies.
“Lots of sunshine is on call and the trout bite promises to be exciting. With school starting next week in many communities, now would be a great time for a final summer fling with the kids. Come drop a line in the White and pull in a rainbow or two; enjoy The Natural State with us.”

(updated 8-8-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that this week the saying “wash, rinse and repeat” applies. Bull Shoals Lake is 1.5 feet below the top of the power pool level and Norfork Lake is about 2 feet above pool power pool level. For the last several days Norfork Dam has been consistently generating more than 6,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) and Bull Shoals Dam has been generating in the afternoons to evenings as high as 20,000 cfs. As a result, in Calico Rock we are seeing high water in the mornings between 9-10 feet with some dinginess as the Bull Shoals water passes and by midmorning, water levels start dropping with the water clearing up. During the night, water levels drop as low as 6 feet before rising again in the morning. During the higher water the fishing is tougher but still doable drift-fishing with silver inline spinners with Uncommon Bait UV eggs with corn, shrimp or worms. As the water drops, drift-fishing improves as well as artificial lures such as Rapala Countdowns or quarter-ounce Thompson Colorado Spoons in nickel/gold or Little Cleo in gold or silver. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures this weekend and take the kids fishing one more time before school starts.

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 8-8-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Wednesday that the lake level is around 659 feet msl, down about a foot from this time last week. Water temperature is around 87 degrees, give or take; it’s warmer in the stained water. Bass fishing has been a little slow, typical for the dead of summer. Bass are set up on summer areas and patterns, and the bite has been better for schoolers during generation. The thermocline is set up in 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 and saddles that are close to deep water.

The topwater bite has been random! The bite will definitely slow down as the sun gets up; switch to a Flutter Spoon — that will fool a few. Once the sun gets high, a lot of the fish will move into brush piles and ledges. They can be stubborn. Try a drop-shot or Jewel Scuba or big worm. If you get one or two to bite, you might as well go to the next pile. These fish can be tougher to fire; finesse will help. You can still catch them off points with small Jewel Peewee Jig in green pumpkin orange or PB&J, or a tube or shaky head in 10-20 feet early, then at 25-35 feet. Keep the boat out for deep, long casts. There is a lot of activity around the 30-feet range. Fish the conditions.

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

(updated 8-8-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says fishing for walleye has been fair on the lower end of the lake. They are pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 30-35 feet slowly, 0.8 to 0.9 mph, with 2-ounce bottom bouncers on the sides of primary and secondary points. Fishing with 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 8-8-2024) 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 has 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 8-8-2024) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort (870-492-5113) said 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 8-8-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver lake has dropped around another foot to 1,118.19 msl this week compared to last week’s level. Water temperature is in the 80s.
Fishing is fair to good. Summer patterns dominate the lake right now. Thermocline is your friend. The fish will relate to this feature as long as it exists.
Stripers continue to be consistent with fish being located from Point 6 all the way to the dam. Trolling live baits is your best way of putting fish in the boat.

Crappie are fair and they can be caught fishing trolled crankbaits. “I know these reports sound like a broken record but in the summer, fishing for crappie this is the easiest and most productive method. Walleye can also be caught right now on crawler harnesses/aka bottom bouncers. There are many YouTube videos out there showing this method if you’re not familiar. This is a great method for summertime walleye.

Bass fishing is early or late and you can run into some nice fish. Night fishing has been good using black spinnerbaits and 10-inch black worms.
“It’s HOT so stay hydrated and be safe. Lots of boating activity, so keep aware of activity while moving from one place to another. There unfortunately have been some drownings this summer. Use your lifejackets! Good luck and tight lines!”

Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

(updated 8-8-2024) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said that water conditions have been very good for summertime. Stripers were 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. They say, “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 LiveScope.

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 8-8-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said Thursday he wished he had something new to report, but nothing on the tailwater has changed other than the cooler weather expected to arrive.
“Everything has been consistent,” he said.

Most fish are being caught between Houseman access and (the U.S.) Highway 62 bridge. The trout have been responsive to Pautzke Fire Worms and Eggs, fished on the bottom, with slight movement. This is also the bait and presentation of choice when drift-fishing. Also Fire Bait, with light terminal tackle, has produced nice numbers. You can also try pulling crankbaits in the deeper water for some bigger fish.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing water to keep the tailwater cool. There are still some here-and-there walleye being caught; most are being caught in the deeper holes, jigging with soft plastics like the Pautzke Fire Minnow. If you find the slime line, you will notice quite a temperature change along with a change in the bite.

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

Lake Charles
(updated 8-8-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said there were reports from last weekend and the weekend of a few nice bass hooked at the lake, and some “pretty nice” catfish were caught on lines. Reports also came in of small bream being caught from the shore. The water temperature on Monday had inched up from the previous week to 80.6 degrees and the water is at normal level. It also has the usual murky clarity.

Use worms, crickets and jigs for the good bream bite and fish around the brush piles, stumps and rocky points. Black bass are taking to soft plastic worms and topwater now. Throw around brush and rocky points. Catfish will be well on worms, stink bait, chicken liver, and this is a good time to use lines. No reports on crappie or white bass.

Good fishing days based on the moon times line up again on Aug. 16-22, Shelly added.

Lake Poinsett
(updated 8-1-2024) Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park said fishing at Lake Poinsett has been booming! Bream are hitting on crickets and bass are hitting on lures like the Berkley Choppo. One local angler, Buzz Worth, has been catching bass in the mornings especially. He recommended the Drag and Hop technique to get the fish really hooked on your baits! He also stated that he saw bass beginning to school on shad in the shallower parts of the lake, but that most of his catches were in 8-10 feet of water.
The bait shop at Lake Poinsett State Park continues to sell crickets, nightcrawlers and minnows, even during the hotter days.
Remember, anglers: Bass and crappie continue to be catch-and-release at Lake Poinsett.

Spring River
(updated 8-8-2024) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water is running at 340 cfs (350 cfs is average at the Spring) and water clarity has been clear. A dry spell over the last week has the river looking great. Check the blog for current river conditions on our website linked above. Storms moving through can change river conditions.

The trout are biting great on Woollies or Hopper droppers on good days. With the heat it is very wise to fish early, then quit as the temperature gets in the upper 90s — not good for the fish and they do turn off as it gets hot. On the tough days you’ve got to get to the bottom and keep the fly there. Stocking size has been smaller. Ready for fall and bigger trout.

For spin-fishing, Trout Magnets in pink, white and red have been hot. Chasing bigger fish, try the Trout Cranks, with the rainbow pattern working best; use Ned rigs for the smallies. Please catch and release the smallmouth, it takes over 10 years to get a 20-inch smallmouth bass. Release and let them grow — by far the hardest fighting fish ever for its size!

“The smallies are biting great with this heat wave. The trick is to get to the bottom and work the fly slow. Big olive Woollies and Brownies have been the go-to. No need for a sink tip; just a heavy fly with long leader works great. A young man was fishing with me and had one olive zonked strip fly that was very hot. Only thing is, he was fishing it below an indicator. I don’t know, but he caught a bunch of nice trout and bigger smallies.
“The AGFC has had new portable bathrooms placed in our public accesses. There has been an issue with them being nasty. A big thank-you to the AGFC for hearing us and trying to fix the problem. A nice place to use the bathroom is very important! Please help us by keeping them clean.

“With the hot temps, the Spring River is a cool, refreshing 58 degrees! A great place to cool off and catch some beautiful trout.”

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 8-8-2024) Claire Humes at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said anglers are trying but the catching has been a little slow this last week. They were fishing with crickets from a kayak for anything on Saturday but didn’t catch anything. Anglers were trying their luck from the exterior pier on Sunday, fishing with redworms for not only bream, but anything that might bite.

Lake Monticello
(updated 8-8-2024) 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 8-8-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said drawdown conditions continue on Millwood. The Army Corps of Engineers instituted a 2-feet drawdown late last month 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.
The dam is releasing about 691 cfs and tailwater is holding near 225 feet. Use extreme caution in navigation during the drawdown. Underwater hazards, stumps and obstacles will be at or near surface pool, especially in the boat lanes along the river and main lake.

Surface temperature has been stable, ranging 87 degrees early to 93 degrees later in the day along Little River. Clarity along Little River remains muddy in many locations, but continues improving with decreased river current. Normal to moderate stain is found in most locations, with some areas further up Little River being heaviest. River clarity is ranging 5-8 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity of the oxbows will vary widely from normal stained to good visibility from 20-30 inches, and we observed around fair visibility in a few wind- and current protected areas like McGuire Oxbow up to 3 feet clarity. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, gate discharge, rain or thunderstorms. Further up Little River from White Cliffs to Cossatot inflow at Wilton Landing remains more stained, and more current.

Mike provided these fishing specifics:
* It is HOT in southwest Arkansas, folks — well, I guess because it’s AUGUST! We have not seen much change over the past few weeks for largemouth bass. The best bite of the day over the past few weeks continues to be from dawn to around 9 a.m., and then the bite is done. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River, where the thermocline resides between 10-15 feet, are holding nice groups of largemouths. For the past few weeks, bass were active early up to 2-4 pounds on topwater baits, and cloud cover mornings continue seeing the best activity early at dawn. Feeding activity levels have slowed with the increase of surface temperatures in the mid- to low 90-degree range.
Several nice, healthy bass from 9-10 pounds have been caught and released lately in the Thursday night tournaments (from 6-9 p.m.).
Best baits drawing reactions at dawn continue to be buzzbaits, soft plastic frogs, Cordell Crazy Shads, Baby Torpedoes and Chuggers near pads and vegetation. Buzzbait colors drawing best reactions continue to be 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, and are all getting fair to good reactions from largemouths in creek channels near stumps, cypress trees and near lily pad stands along Little River. Topwater activity levels drop off after 9-10 a.m. Very little topwater activity happens from noon until dusk.

After the early morning bite slows, a random bite can be had near creek dumps into Little River with a custom painted, shad-patterned, shallow-running square-bill crankbaits, 2.0 and 3.0 & S-cranks, and Bill Lewis Echo 1.75s to draw a few good random reactions by deflecting and banging/deflecting them off stumps from 8-10 feet deep in creek channels and points. The bass around 14-15 inches in length are randomly responding to crankbaits in shad and bream colors. Best colors of cranks in the oxbows have been the Bold Bluegill, Millwood Magic and Ghosts. 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 Rat-L-Traps recently have been Millwood Magic and White Smoke.

The square bills, S-cranks and Echo 1.75 cranks and shallow-running crankbaits in bream, Bluegill ghost and Tennessee Shad colors are working near creek mouths and points extending into Little River for the past week or so. The drawdown is pulling a lot of fish to the mouths of creeks. Working the cranks in a stop and go, slow retrieve will draw a better reaction than fast retrieves. The drawdown currently in process will bring the majority of largemouths to creek mouths and points in junction 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, Kentucky bass and white bass have been randomly schooling over the past week in various locations at dawn running river shad. Kastmaster Spoons, Cordell Spoons, Rat-L-Traps and Little Georges all were catching the surface schoolers over the past week. These fish appear to be juveniles, ranging in size from 1-2.5 pounds each.
Bass Assassin Shads in Grey Ghost, Salt & Pepper Phantom, Violet Moon and Rainbow Shad colors continue working near creek channels with stumps and vegetation. Over the past couple weeks, 4-inch magnum tubes like Gitzits have been working on stumps, with best reactions on black and blue tail, Watermelon Magic, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tai or bluegill colors.
After the early topwater bite subsides (8-9 a.m.), switch to medium-diving cranks or a big, bulky, 10- to 12-inch worm around stumps on points and deeper in the creeks to draw a few reactions from feeding largemouth bass, and on points dumping into Little River and secondary points along Little River. Berkley Power Worms and Zoom Ole Monster Worms in Junebug/Red, black, blue fleck and red shad are drawing random reactions along steeper vertical washouts, ledges and stair steps along Little River and near creek mouth junctions, points and intersecting feeder creeks dumping into Little River.
Vertical jigging spoons are still working with spotted bass and white bass as well as several schools of largemouths in Little River behind points and washouts. Schools of black bass feeding on river shad will hit vertical-jigged spoons with abandon once the topwater bite subsides. We have been using Cotton Cordell Hammered Spoons over the past couple of weeks, with added bucktails. Some mornings a white bucktail is best, and seems like on cloudy mornings that a red bucktail works better. Between Jack’s Isle and Hurricane Creek along Little River, in 10-15 feet depth where broken timber and stumps are located, you’ll find the most aggressive spoon feeders. Hurricane Creek had some spoon-feeding bass early one morning last week, along with surface schooling spots and white bass over several days, where bends of creeks contained deeper water in 10-15 feet depth.
* 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 few 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.
* Bream are wrapping up and have finished their annual spawn for the most part. Several nice bluegills and Mason bream, along with goggleye, in the three-quarter to 1-pound range have been caught over the past several weeks by shoreline anglers at Millwood State Park and at Jack’s Isle. Crickets, redworms and minnows were working best over the past several weeks.

* 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 8-8-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature is 64 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 spring flooding 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 huge 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 is 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 spawns 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 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 8-1-2024) 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 Nimrod
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow reports from Nimrod Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

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

(updated 8-8-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are slow. Try a topwater bait near main lake and secondary points early or a Texas-rigged Ole Monster worm near brush after dark.

Walleye are very good and being caught on nightcrawlers near structure with a drop-shot rig or jigging spoon. Stripers are still good. These fish are being caught in the eastern portions of the lake. Bream are still good and being caught on crickets and worms in the 15- to 25-feet range. No reports on crappie. For catfish, try stink bait or cut bait on a rod-and-reel setup in the 15- to 25-feet range, especially near structure and brush.
Water temperature is consistent with recent weeks, ranging 82-86 degrees. The clarity is clear. The lake level continues to fall some, down to 574.14 feet msl at midweek. 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 8-8-2024) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) had no new reports.

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.