Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

August 22, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Every day is a “dad’s day” when you can haul in a nice rainbow trout like this one. Robert (no last name provided) from Holiday Island caught this in the Beaver Lake tailwater while fishing with tailwater guide Austin Kennedy. The fishing has been “pretty good” on the tailwater, Kennedy reports, with most fishing being caught between Houseman Access and the U.S. Highway 62 bridge. Water releases from the Beaver Dam are keeping temperature nice in the tailwater. Some here-and-there walleye are also being caught in deeper holes on soft plastics, Kennedy reported.

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 8-22-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake has stabilized this last week and the fishing has been pretty much the same as it was last week. They also say a lot of anglers are stopping in and picking up bait to fish the other area lakes for bass and crappie, if they aren’t focusing on the remaining areas of water and decent holes left in Lake Conway as it is drawn down for renovation. The report last week was that anglers catching catfish is “pretty much all that’s been going on. A few crappie here and there, a few bass, but that’s it. It looks like it’s getting down to the nitty gritty. We had the fish kill back a few weeks ago, then the big rain that followed and washed them out, and all the rest of the fish scattered. Nobody caught anything for a couple of weeks. Now that it’s going back down, we’re hoping the fish will congregate again where you can catch a few.” And that’s what they’re seeing this week as well.

Try cut shad and worms for the catfish. A few crappie have been caught on minnows but the best bet probably is a shad-colored jig now. 

Most attractive to the bass has been a 7 ½-inch June bug color soft plastic worm.
The Lake Conway Nursery Pond, a small, alternative fishing location now that Lake Conway is being drawn down and renovated, has been popular with anglers lately catching fish. The bass and bream are on the small size, but a lot of table-fare-size catfish are being caught on worms. “Perfect eaters,” our source at Bates says. The 60-acre pond has been stocked with bass, crappie and bream, along with catfish. Follow state creel limits at the nursery pond.

The main Lake Conway, however, 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. 

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 8-22-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that like many other spots around central and north-central Arkansas at midweek with the cooler weather, especially in the mornings, the fishing has been good. Rooster Tails and Marabou Jigs are the best bets. Anglers are having best success targeting the top and bottom sides of shoals with a little bit of flow in those areas. The generation from the dam has been about the same for several weeks, about 4-5 hours during the day.

(updated 8-15-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said Thursday that the Southwestern Power Administration generation schedule on the Little Red has been fairly predictable over the last few weeks, with water releases typically starting in the afternoon around 1 p.m. and continuing until about 6-8 p.m. on weekdays. This past weekend saw no water releases, which has kept the bite steady.
For the best fishing, hit the river in the morning when the water from the previous day’s release is still falling. Fish are holding strong in the deeper waters along the moss beds, especially as the water drops and daytime temperature rises. These moss beds provide a great cover from the sun, making them a prime spot for trout.
As for what’s working, the hot flies right now are Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle Nymphs, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear and Root Beer Midges. The fish are also active in the shoals or any areas with moving water, so those spots are worth a cast or two.
“If you’re planning a trip, feel free to reach out to me at 501-507-3688, or visit the website linked above for more details. Tight lines!”

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 8-22-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that this little bit of cooler weather has really been good for the fishing. The topwater bite has been going really well early in the morning and late in the afternoon. A clear Zara Spook is good for targeting schooling fish. Anglers are finding the schoolers in the backs of pockets, the middle of creeks and out on the main lake. During the day, a Carolina rig is doing real well, they say, with anglers using that while fishing out a little deeper. Also, a football jig is a good bet, and a lot of anglers are fishing a Damiki rig, like a jighead minnow, for some success.
The walleye have been doing really well lately. Anglers are catching them on a chartreuse jighead with a nightcrawler. Walleye are being found in 30-40 feet hanging out around standing timber. 

Crappie also are biting. It seems the best way to catch crappie now is spider-rigging around standing timber or casting a jig. The best color for jig is the Bobby Garland Baby Shad in Monkey Milk with a pink jighead and targeting about 25 feet depth in the tops of standing timber.

The water is clear and at a normal August level. 

(updated 8-22-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said Wednesday the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 459.87 feet msl. That’s 2.67 feet below normal pool of 462.54 feet msl. The AGFC, he says, opened the pipe for the nursery pond on Monday and was releasing the 2024 crop of threadfin shad, and they should be all in the lake by this coming weekend.

Not much else has changed other than more fish schooling on top in different parts of the lake and rivers, and Southwestern Power Administration continues generating 4-5 hours in afternoons, which helps with oxygenation in the lake as well as the river below. It also helps with the bite as all species of game fish are eating off and on at opportune times. Most species are on their summer spots and staying on structure where you can really work on them.
Continue to look super shallow and out to 30 feet for crappie. Use jigs, minnows or crankbaits. A lot of fish are migrating to cooler areas in timber where a lot of bait spend the summer, so fishing straight up and down is a must when fishing for crappie now. Walleye are eating in the main lake, with a few left up rivers and scattered throughout the lake. Drag a crawler or crankbait in 28-50 feet depth. Some walleye will flow under big schools of white bass and hybrids, so use a spoon for those. Summer, like with crappie, is when the walleye head to the timber and hang out while it’s hot; it’s a little cooler and there is more bait fish there. A spoon is best for vertical jigging 10-50 feet depth.
Most hybrid and white bass are set up on the main lake. Some are roaming and schooling on top, but for ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. Catfish are biting the usual stuff working in the lake and rivers. Some bream are shallow, but most still around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers are working fine as well as inline spinners. Some lone black bass are shallow, but most are out or roaming shallow and schooling — use Carolina rigs, topwater baits, 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 8-15-2024) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said catfish are doing well. One gentleman caught a 28-pound flathead on a trotline using baby bream and minnows on the line. Another angler caught seven or eight cats one morning this week. Bream are doing well, too. An angler living across the lake caught 30 bream in one hour using crickets and worms.

The water is really low due to no rain recently. The clarity is a little bit murky.

Nothing heard on crappie, and it may be too hot for bass anglers, as nothing has been reported lately.

Lake Overcup
(updated 8-15-2024) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing off Arkansas Highway 9 said the water level is normal and clarity is good. Surface temperature is around 88 degrees. There is a ton of shad across the lake. The fish seem to be feeding more early morning and late evening because of the heat. Fishing is really slow right now with the heat; not a lot of people are fishing but the ones trying are still catching bass, bream, catfish and some crappie in the deeper water. 

Brewer Lake
(update 8-22-2024) 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 8-15-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) said the water stayed about as warm as the past week, ranging 88-90 degrees, and while the black bass bite is fair, most every other species noticeably slowed down this week. Largemouth bass were biting fair in shallow water in the mornings (about 2-4 feet depth, but not moving up much in the evenings), and also being found deeper to 20-22 feet. Largemouths are relating to points and drop-offs and still partial to Texas-rigged worms, topwater lures, jigs and crankbaits. Spotted bass are also fair with reports noting them around drop-offs in 18-22 feet. Use drop-shots and crankbaits for spots. 

The last black bass tournament of the season out of WestRock Landing was this past Tuesday night, with Billy Wright and Brad Edwards landing five bass totaling 16.57 pounds, including the Big Bass of 4.57 pounds. Brandon Crain and Matt Hedrick were right behind with 14.07 total pounds. Cameron Nesterenko and Andrew Wooley fished 19 tournaments this season and won Angler of the Year for the sixth straight year with 246.31 total pounds caught.

Crappie are slow, with reports of them being found suspended around brush anywhere from 16-21 feet depth. Use jigs or minnows. Bream also have slowed and are being found around 10-15 feet. They’ll bite crickets, redworms and drop-shots.

No reports on white bass schooling or any catfish baits. Catfish should be eager for some small bream, liver or worms if you want to catch a few.

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 8-15-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said Thursday he hasn’t seen many people out. Everything is pretty much about the same in terms of fish action, though. The water is the same: clear and normal.

It’s been so hot all week, about the only people he’s seen out are in kayaks, Ray said.

The water temperature is still ranging 82-84 degrees. “It’s as warm as bath water now. I’d say the fish would still be an early and late game. Nothing really great to report. I haven’t really been out fishing myself.”

Black bass should still be most interested in crankbaits, topwater lures and soft-plastic worms. Minnows were working last week for crappie. Catfish will bite hot dogs around the dock now, as well as chicken liver.

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 8-22-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports that topwater has been one of the major things of note on the river this week with the arrival of cooler mornings. The topwater bite has been doing really well, they say. Try a bone-colored Zara Spook or perhaps a small, compact buzzbait in black or white. The buzzbait has also been working well.

During the day, a shaky head and also a chartreuse black back or blue back crankbait have been working well off the ends of jetties.

They have not heard anything on crappie from the river.

The catfish are biting below the dam (Murray) on stink bait and nightcrawlers.
The water has a stained clarity. The level is about normal, and there is a little flow but not much these days.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 8-15-2024) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said anglers are doing well on catfish, while the crappie are biting for anglers trolling or spider-rigging. Minnows will work for crappie, but she says anglers are mainly catching them on jigs.
Hot dogs and liver are preferred by the cats.

The black bass are doing well, and Donna figures it’s on a topwater lure now but the bass anglers seldom share what they are using. Also, anglers are catching a few bream here and there.

The water is down but no stumps are showing. This time of year, she says, most anglers prefer the stumps to show so they can work their baits around them. 

The water “looks clear for Peckerwood,” she added.

White River
(updated 8-22-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals tailwater level has continued its daily fluctuation: very low water levels in the morning hours, much higher generation in the late afternoon. The lake is slightly below power pool at 657.61 feet msl. When the channels are narrow due to limited generation, please

share the space. Regardless of experience or technique, we’re all part of the family of trout-loving fishers.

The first two weeks of each new school year see very light traffic on the river and, for some reason, the trout seem more finicky. So, while you may have more of the river to yourself, you might have to be more imaginative in bait selection — keep a variety on hand. Crawdads, softshell and fresh, as well as a crawfish-scented attractor on your bait, might make the catch a little quicker. Much of last week’s rainbow catch was lured in with sunrise or pink PowerBait combined with shrimp; best on a size 8 Aberdeen or bait holder hook. Always a good idea to use bronze hooks to decrease harm to the trout; save a trout instead of a hook and cut the line.

Tie on a spoon (blue/silver Cleo or Thomas Buoyant) or a favorite jerkbait (Smithwick, white belly maybe) when a rise in water level is detected. Drifted mid-depth you’ll likely increase your catch count.

“Late summer is hopper season so pull out your hopper flies and make your way to the river. First-day-of-school preparation is behind us, no demanding holiday schedules yet; life is easy. Come share it with us.” 

(updated 8-22-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “From Bull Shoals Dam we continue to see generation ramping up in the afternoons with flows as high as 2,100-plus cfs before tapering off at night. From Norfork Dam we are seeing generation throughout the day starting in the morning and continuing into the night with flows as high as 5,000-plus cfs. In Calico Rock the water from Bull Shoals Dam reaches us in the morning with depths as high as 9 feet and dingy water. By midmorning we start to see the water dropping and starting to clear up. We see a bump in water levels as the Norfork Dam water reaches us. 

“In the mornings it isn’t uncommon for boats to head upriver to get above the rise or for boats to head downriver to “ride the rise”; either way the fishing has been good.
“We have seen best results with silver inline spinners with Uncommon Baits UV Neo Pink eggs and shrimp.
“This week we received one stocking at the Calico Rock boat ramp of almost 2,400 rainbow trout from the AGFC Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery.”

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 8-22-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said Thursday that the lake level is around 657 feet msl, about another foot lower than the previous week. Water temperature is still around 83 degrees, give or take. 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 schooling fish 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 as well as treetops that are close to deep water. The topwater bite has been hit or miss. The bite will definitely slow down as the sun gets high.
If you wait until about 11 a.m. the Corps of Engineers has been generating water and the bite will get going regardless of the heat. A flutter spoon will fool a few. 

Once the sun gets high, a lot of the fish will move deep and suspend or move into piles or off 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 a 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. The cooler temperature hopefully is a sign that fall is coming.

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 8-22-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says walleye patterns on the lower end of the lake have not changed much these past few weeks. Walleyes seem to be following the thermocline down as summer progresses. There are times and areas that the fish can be found feeding at the 25- to 30-feet levels. It seems when they are up on the flats they are shallower than the fish on the steeper side of the points. Scan points, both sides and tips, by zigzagging in 25-40 feet to find fish. Try to fish when they are moving water through the dam; that seems to help the bite. Pulling nightcrawler harnesses in 33-38 feet slowly, 0.8 to 0.9 mph, with 3-ounce bottom bouncers on the sides of primary and secondary points has been best for me. We’re fishing with 1.5 Smile Butterfly blades in gold or orange and chartreuse with an orange bead pattern. No. 3 white willow leaf blade or No. 3 white Colorado with white pearl beads is working. Also, just a No. 4 split shot and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler worked slowly around groups of fish or on deeper sides of brush piles will catch some, especially when fishing is slow. Still lots of fish in the 16- to 17-inch size are being caught.

Spooning with a three-quarter-ounce white spoon in water off main lake points in 30-40 feet will also get some fish. TIP: Cutting one of the hooks off the spoon’s treble hook will help reduce snags.

(updated 8-22-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says the crappie bite has been fairly tough for the most part the last couple of weeks. Key on different brush on a daily basis and when you find some that cooperate, don’t expect it to be that way the next time you show up the next day or days. They are very particular lately and overall we have still been catching a lot of mixed quality and occasionally a few really nice ones. The jig bite is pretty slow, but if you’re going to fish one, a 1/16-ounce with a small fry bait, minnows, have carried the majority of the load lately. The brush that’s around 20-30 feet seems to be the better stuff. Fall is around the corner and it’s going to get better before long. 

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

(updated 8-22-2024) 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 8-22-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake levels are steady in the 1,118-feet-msl range. Water temps are in the lower 80s.

Summer patterns are still in effect with some cooler temperature the last couple of days, making for some enjoyable fishing conditions. The heat returns this weekend.
Fishing is fair to good depending on who you’re talking to. Stripers are good, but it seems as if the smaller fish are showing lately. Areas to concentrate your efforts are Point 5 up to the dam. 

Crappie have been moving toward brush and structure in 15-25 feet depth. Jigs and minnows will work. Walleye have been caught on crawler harnesses and trolled crankbaits.
Small bass are schooled up and are popping up all over the mid-lake area, producing some quick topwater action if you’re in the right area when that happens. Catfish are good and can be caught on any and all methods. We saw lots of channel cats last week while trolling for walleye. Bluegill are there and willing to participate! Good times for new anglers. 

“Fall patterns soon! My favorite time of the year. Be safe out there and good luck!”

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

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 8-22-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said fishing this past few 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, 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 also produced nice numbers. 

“You can also try pulling crankbaits in the deeper water for some bigger fish. The water temperatures have been up and down, but the 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 holes jigging with soft plastics.
“As we are losing a little more light each day, it is still summer! Remember to stay hydrated, wear loose cool clothing and protect yourself from the sun. 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 8-15-2024) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) says nobody’s out fishing. “We’re in a heat wave,” they reported Thursday. “No one has been out all week.” Before the heat rolled in, bass and crappie were both biting. Bass were good on a spinnerbait. Crappie were fair on worms. 

The water is murky and is at a normal level.

Lake Charles
(updated 8-22-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said fishing picked up for all species last weekend with a little bit of a rise in the water temperature to 80.7 degrees. Bream are biting well in shallow water on worms and crickets. Focus your bait around brush piles, stumps and rocky points. Crappie reappeared and were biting fair, especially off the pier. Use minnows. Also throw around brush piles, stumps and rocky points. Black bass are fair on topwater and minnows. They’re best around rocky points. Catfishing is good using worms, chicken liver, cut bait and minnows. This good fishing fell right in line with the “moon times,” which forecast a good week through Thursday (Aug. 22). Shelly says that best days based on “moon” charts should fall Aug. 30-Sept. 5.

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 level 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 lined 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 slowly. Big olive Woollies and Brownies have been the go-to. No need for a sink tip; just a heavy fly with a 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 8-22-2024) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no new report for this week. Most recently, however, they reported water temperature in the upper 80s, mild flow on the main channel and visibility up to 12 inches. Recent rains had cooled the water slightly and the black bass were biting well. White bass, striped bass and black bass could 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 are the go-tos within schooling activity. Otherwise, anglers were urged to 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 could be caught by focusing more on dark-colored finesse jigs near current breaks or woody cover/brush piles, though fewer bites should be expected with this approach. 

Cane Creek Lake
(updated 8-22-2024) Claire Humes at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said fishing has slowed down this last week at Cane Creek Lake. This past weekend, anglers were using crickets to catch bream at the Camper Dock. On Saturday, anglers were at both piers fishing for anything that would bite and using crickets and nightcrawlers.

Lake Monticello
(updated 8-22-2024) 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 Hunger Run Access is now open 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 8-22-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said lake elevation is stable with the 2-foot drawdown conditions, imposed by the Army Corps of Engineers for improving shoreline vegetation and promoting sediment compaction. Millet is being planted for waterfowl. The lake will be held at 257.2 feet until Sept. 13, when it is raised 6 inches. The drawdown will end on Nov. 1. Millwood Lake Dam is releasing about 987 cfs and tailwater is holding near 225 feet and stable. USE EXTREME CAUTION IN NAVIGATION DURING DRAWDOWN CONDITIONS. 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 is stable, ranging 84-88 degrees. 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 stain. River clarity ranges 5-8 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity of oxbows will vary widely from normal stained to good visibility from 20-30 inches.

Mike had these fishing specifics:
* It’s still HOT. There’s not much change over the past few weeks for largemouth bass. The best bite of the day continues to be from dawn to around 9 a.m., and the bite is done. Nice groups of largemouths are holding in the mouths of creeks dumping into Little River where the thermocline resides between 10-15 feet. Bass up to 2-4 pounds still are active early on topwaters, and cloud-cover mornings still see the best activity at dawn. Feeding activity levels have slowed with the increase of surface temperatures in the mid- to low 90-degree range over the past couple weeks. 

Several nice, healthy bass from 9-10 pounds have been caught and released lately in the Thursday night tournaments (6-9 p.m.).
There were numerous sections all along Little River this week from around 7-9 a.m. where white bass, largemouths and spotted bass were schooling and surface-breaking on threadfin shad from Jack’s Isle up Little River to Hurricane Creek. Also, schooling bass were noted along Little River from the dump of Pugh Slough into Little River almost halfway down the south bank to Snake Creek. Three anglers caught over 25-30 fish in just under 45 minutes using Kastmaster Spoons, Pop-R’s, Smithwick Rogues and gold Ken Pops with white bucktail.

Baits drawing best reactions in the early morning 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 is along Little River in 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 in creek channels near stumps, cypress trees and near lily pads stands along Little River. Topwater activity levels drop off after 9 or 10 a.m. Then there is very little topwater activity 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 pattern, shallow-running square-bill crankbait — 2.0 and 3.0 and S-cranks, Bill Lewis Echo 1.75’s — by 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, like the 2.0 S-cranks and Echo 1.75 square bills, 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 Traps over the past week or so 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 over 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 will bring the majority of largemouths to creek mouths and points in junction with Little River in short order.
* White bass were schooling along Little River with the largemouth bass in the early mornings this week, and continue hitting vertical-jigged half-ounce to 1-ounce Slab Spoons in Little River between Jack’s Isle and the first entrance into Mud Lake, and also in Hurricane Creek from 10-15 feet deep. Little River 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 bass and largemouths, 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 both in Citrus Shad, Tennessee Shad and Millwood Magic colors will draw reactions. Little George’s, Rocket Shads, and red/white Rooster Tails continued working last week.
* Crappie continue to improve over the past few weeks with water clarity improving in many locations. Planted brush piles in Pugh Slough, Horseshoe, Bee Lake, Millwood State Park or Saratoga continue to hold nice 12- to 15-inch crappie, and they gave up some nice 2-pound slabs over the past few weeks. Try minnows, jigs or jigs tipped with a minnow in planted brush piles at 10-16 feet. Best colors for jigs and tube jigs over the past few weeks have been Houdini, 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 or have finished their annual spawn for the most part. Several nice bluegills and Mason bream, along with goggleye, have been caught in the three-quarters to 1-pound range over the past several weeks by bank anglers at Millwood State Park and Jack’s Isle. Crickets, redworms and minnows were working best.
* No reports on catfish.

Lake Columbia
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.

(updated 8-22-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) continued to fish both here and Lake Hamilton this week, and he says bass of all species are breaking early in the morning. A few may be caught on or near the surface, but most are feeding deeper. “Our best has been on a spoon and counting it down deep and pulling that spoon past the feeding fish through the thermocline.”

(updated 8-8-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted earlier this week on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, that it’s “all about the topwater bite. The topwater bite has been incredible, obviously, for the last couple of weeks — before this week, because it has been so hot. A couple of weeks ago we got that little cool front that came through and that’s what we’re dealing with right now. You go out the first 2, 3 or 4 hours of the day and catch whatever you’re going to catch. And option B, go night fishing. After the sun goes down, on Hamilton, DeGray, Ouachita, Greeson, it doesn’t matter, there’s a lot of great fishing after dark.”

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 8-22-2024) 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 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.

No reports.

Lake Hamilton
(updated 8-22-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) continued to fish both Lake Hamilton and DeGray Lake this week, and he says bass of all species are breaking early in the morning at both places. A few may be caught on or near the surface, but most are feeding deeper. The best results have “been on a spoon and counting it down deep and pulling that spoon past the feeding fish through the thermocline.”

(updated 8-8-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted earlier this week on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, that it’s “all about the topwater bite. The topwater bite has been incredible, obviously, for the last couple of weeks — before this week, because it has been so hot. A couple of weeks ago we got that little cool front that came through and that’s what we’re dealing with right now. You go out the first 2, 3 or 4 hours of the day and catch whatever you’re going to catch. And option B, go night fishing. After the sun goes down, on Hamilton, DeGray, Ouachita, Greeson, it doesn’t matter, there’s a lot of great fishing after dark.”

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 8-15-2024) Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025) reports that with the water very low from the Corps of Engineers drawdown — lake level was 10 feet below normal pool, or 337.4 feet msl on Thursday — only two ramps have any real accessibility, and of those, Carden Point is the access most being used. Anderson Access is on the more difficult side to access, they say. 

Despite that and the drawdown, fishing is still going well and anglers are still catching everything out there, they report. One angler caught his limit of crappie earlier this week while another had a mixed day, catching about nine. A female angler fishing for bass with a spinnerbait landed a large catfish in the process.

“Because it’s so low, catfish are biting on everything,” they say. 

Crappie are still biting really well, catfish are good and anglers are still catching plenty of bream. Most of Nimrod’s regular bass anglers are going up to Dardanelle these days rather than risk getting stuck trying to get their bass rig into Nimrod. One regular was catching some bass from the shoreline earlier this week, but they weren’t keepers.

There are some parts of the lake that are only about a foot deep. Boaters/anglers are urged to follow the buoys and “go slow!” One group boating recently got their craft stuck and needed a rescue from Carter Cove personnel.

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 8-22-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are still 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 still very good and are being caught on nightcrawlers near structure with a drop-shot rig or jigging spoon. Stripers are good and being caught in the eastern portion of the lake. Bream are still good and being caught on crickets and worms in the 15- to 25-feet range. 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.
No reports on crappie
Water temperature has dropped a little to 80-84 degrees, and the water clarity is clear. The lake level Thursday morning was 573.03, about 5 feet below normal pool.

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 8-22-2024) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) had no new reports from Horseshoe Lake.

Cook’s Lake
(updated 8-22-2024) The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) says the season is about to wrap up at Cook’s Lake, and they have not had many anglers fishing of late. The ones who have tried it have not done well at all. The water level is very low now.

Fishing will wrap up with this weekend (Aug. 23-24) and next weekend (Aug. 30-31) before the lake sets up to be a waterfowl rest area for the remainder of the year.

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. 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 8-22-2024) Webb’s Sporting Goods (870-946-0347) in DeWitt (1970 S. Whitehead Drive) reports that fishing has slowed a bit, but folks are still catching catfish in deeper holes on all three area rivers — Arkansas, White and the Mighty Mississippi — on these hot summer days.
Hunters are getting ready for the new velvet deer hunt (Sept. 7-9 statewide on private land and AGFC-owned public lands). “Customers at the store are showing us a lot of good deer on their trail cam pictures. Farmers are harvesting, making the deer move as always during the fall season. We are seeing deer in places that we normally don’t. We’re hoping to have a good hunting season this year! Thanks to all our customers from Webb’s Sporting Goods!”

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