Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

September 19, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

This trio of crappie anglers were all smiles this past week after a fun outing with Capt. Darryl Morris on Lake Ouachita. Morris, who runs Family Fishing Trips and reports regularly in the Fishing Report, said it’s “crappie time” now. He and his clients are pulling in limits of crappie on live bait under corks fished at 12-18 feet over tops in 20-30 feet of water. To go along with the improving crappie bite, Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors said this week that the topwater bass bite on Ouachita and all the other big area lakes is terrific now. Use something that resembles a small shad. Read more below.

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 9-19-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said very few fish are being caught now. Seems like a few crappie up at Cane Creek on that end, and some being caught in Wilhelmina Cove, but “it’s pretty much done.” Some fishermen are snagging buffalo below the dam, they add.

Bream and small bass are being caught in the Lake Conway Nursery Pond, a 60-acre spot that has been open to fishing by the AGFC while the renovation takes place on the main lake. Fish also are being caught at Nimrod, according to anglers coming into the store.

While fishing is going on in the main lake, there are no creel or length limits during its drawdown phase as part of the AGFC’s renovation project. 

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 9-19-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that there is not a lot of flow going through the river, so you’re going to encounter low water conditions most of the time. What they are hearing from the anglers on the Little Red is that Rapala Countdowns are providing the most success for both rainbows and browns. A few customers have been buying Marabou Jigs.

(updated 9-19-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said Thursday that over the past month the generation schedule has been super consistent. Southwestern Power Administration has been releasing two units of water starting around 3 p.m., and they shut it down between 7-9 p.m. This has made for some happy fish and a solid bite across the river. 

The best action has been early in the morning as the water from the previous day’s release falls out. If you’re looking to get on some fish, make sure to have these hot flies in your box: Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear and Root Beer Midges. Fishing these under an indicator near the moss beds or in current will give you the best shot. Shoals with a plunge pool are prime spots to start your day. As the water continues to drop, focus on the deeper sections. Trout tend to hold close to moss beds in these areas, so keep an eye out for those deeper spots with vegetation.

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 9-19-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that bass, and specifically the smallmouth bass, are biting close to the dam off bluff walls. Anglers are using drop-shots and Carolina rigs with success.

And, pretty much around all of the lake but more specifically on the higher end above the Narrows, the largemouth bass are biting well on jerkbaits in shad colors. A lot of that jerkbait bite is coming off secondary points or main lake points as the bass are starting to move back with this recent cooler weather.

Bass are also biting pretty well on the tributaries leading into the main lake. Fish for those with really of your favorite bass lures, but big spoons and single smaller swimbaits on a jighead have been working for their anglers.

Some anglers are catching a few walleye. The catches are going to be more focused near main lake points but still pretty far off those points. A lot of anglers are “looking at them on the screen” and then drop-shotting with a nightcrawler to pick some up. A few other anglers are throwing some really deep-diving jerkbaits when they are trolling over those main lake points to pick up a walleye or two.

(updated 9-19-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said Thursday the water level is at 457.59 feet msl, or 4.95 feet below normal pool. Not much else has changed. Fish are coming up on top schooling in different parts of the lake and rivers. Power generation has somewhat remained steady now other than some weekends, with the Southwestern Power Administration 4-5 hours in afternoons, which helps with oxygenation in the lake and the river below. We are seeing somewhat of a turnover in our upper parts of main feeders, so stay away from stained water. Also with the cooling off, some fish will move shallower but a lot years we’ve seen some     that will go deeper for a while until it really gets cool.

Continue to try super shallow and out to 30 feet for crappie. Use jigs, minnows or crankbaits. A lot of fish migrated to cooler areas in timber where there is bait. Fishing straight up and down is a must when fishing for crappie. 

Walleye are eating in the main lake. For the few left up rivers and scattered throughout the lake, drag a crawler or crankbait in 28-50 feet depth. Some walleye will follow under big schools of white bass and hybrids; use a spoon for those. Just like with crappie, this is the time when the walleye hang out in timber while it’s hot; it’s a little cooler there, and there is more bait fish. A spoon is best for vertical jigging 10-50 feet depth.
Most hybrid and white bass are set up on the main lake, while some are roaming and schooling on top. For ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. 

Catfish are biting the usual stuff 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. Most black bass are out or roaming shallow and schooling, while the loaners are shallow — 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 9-12-2024) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said anglers tell them crappie appear to be slowly moving in now. One angler early Thursday morning caught at least a half-dozen nice-sized crappie fishing right off the shoreline. He was using minnows, which also were attracting hits from bass as well. The early morning was cold with the rain also coming in, they say.
On Wednesday, an anglers caught several nice-sized black bass early in the morning. The bass were in the 3- to 4-pound range, they report. These were caught right up near the big island in the middle of the lake, which is near the deepest water.

Last weekend brought out some catfish anglers looking to catch some fish on noodles with baby bream as bait. They were successful with several “pretty nice catfish” on their stringer.

Bream these days are slow and/or smallish. The bream being caught work better as bait for the catfish. 

The water is somewhat muddy as of Thursday and is low with lots of visible stumps. Boating is not affected, however. The surface temperature of the water Thursday was 75 degrees.

Lake Overcup
(updated 9-19-2024) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing off Arkansas Highway 9 said the water level is about 1 foot below normal. Clarity is good. Surface temperature is around 85 degrees. Bream are starting to slow down but are being caught on crickets and redworms. Black bass are doing well, feeding on shad early morning and late evening.
Catfish are doing well on trotlines and jugs. Crappie are doing well in 12-14 feet of water using jigs and minnows. Hopefully it will be picking up with cooler weather coming. 

Brewer Lake
(update 9-5-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) has fished Brewer as recently as two weeks ago and said it has been fishing about the same as Lake Maumelle (see report below), but during his last visit during a warming trend throughout the state, the water was running 88-89 degrees. It likely has cooled some since then. But at that time, crappie were on brush in 18-22 feet of water. Smaller profiles was key to fishing and are typically key when water is that warm. Eric likes Bobby Garland Itty Bit-type baits for warmer water crappie fishing. As the water cools down, he suggests upgrading to a Baby Shad and using natural colors like Monkey Milk or the something bright like a black/chartreuse or white/chartreuse jig. “Anything that really, really shines,” he said. 

Lake Maumelle
(updated 9-19-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported Thursday that the water temperature is ranging 78-80 degrees. Crappie are good now. Reports of crappie being found suspended around brush anywhere from 18-23 feet. Try using jigs and minnows. Small jigs like the Bobby Garland Itty Bit are working well.

Black bass are ranging fair to good. The largemouth are fair. They’re being found shallow in the mornings in 2-5 feet of water with some of them breaking but not staying up long. Other largemouths are being found deeper and scattered anywhere from 15-20 feet. Look around points and drop-offs. Try drop-shots, Texas-rigged worms, topwater lures, jigs and crankbaits for largemouths. Spotted bass (aka Kentucky bass) are good and being found around those same drop-offs in 15-20 feet of water. Use drop-shots and jigs.

WestRock’s Tuesday Night Black Bass Tournament Fish-Off was held on Saturday. Randal and Ben (no last name provided) caught 15.40 pounds of fish with a five-bass stringer. Matt Hedrick and Brandon Crain brought in 11.93 pounds. The Big Bass weighed 3.98 pounds.
Bream are slow. They can be found on beds still around 10-15 feet. Try using crickets, worms and drop-shots. There have been no reports of late on white bass or catfish. Twister tails might still land a white bass; bream, live and worms would be your best bet to catch any catfish now.

(update 9-12-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) says that thanks to cooler air temps last weekend the lake turnover has begun. Water temps are hovering around 77-78 degrees. Water clarity is stained across the lake. Crappie are hanging tight to cover in the 20-26 feet depth range. Bite has been really good when you find the right fish. 

“As I always preach, ‘Presentation is key!’ We’re still finding great success with Bobby Garland Itty Bit Slab Hunt’Rs starting with the most natural colors. We’ve caught a ton of really healthy bluegill off crappie ‘piles’, along with several quality spotted and largemouth bass. We’ve even run into massive schools of white bass looking for anything to chew. It’s a wonderful time to get out on the water! Give me a shout at 501-548-8990 or book your trip with Natural State Fishing online at www.nsfguide.com.”

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 9-19-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is back to normal, is clever and is in “really good shape for fishing.” One group of anglers caught quite a few nice black bass earlier this week and followed that up the next day by catching 10-12 crappie. The crappie appear to be picking up, Ray said.

Bass are still biting on topwater lures and crankbaits. Crappie can be caught on minnows.

He’s heard nothing on bream this week. Catfish will bite the usual hot dogs and liver.

Ray mentioned last week that a crankbait or anything bream-colored is best at getting the bass’ attention. Throw something chartreuse and orange, or some multicolored-type crank. Try one that has chartreuse on the back and an orange belly and see if that gets a response.

The muddied up water from last week after some rain is long gone. Now’s the time to enjoy perfect water on the Little Maumelle.

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 9-19-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports that the black bass are still biting on the main channel. Anglers are landing them with square bills fished around on jetties. Also, drop-shots and finesse jigs are working on the jetties. 

With the weather starting to change and get cooler, a lot of fish starting to go back into the backwater. So, you can catch them in the backwater around grass or wood both with a buzzbait or a swim jig.

Crappie have been good on rock piles around the entrances to the backwater, or around rock piles just off jetties on the main river. Best bait choice has been a green and chartreuse Crappie Magnet with a one-sixteenth-ounce jighead.
The river flow this week is “pretty slow,” they note, with it sticking around 15,000-30,000 cfs. That would be “not like a lake, but nothing to be much afraid of,” they said.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 9-12-2024) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said fishing has been slow. Anglers are catching some crappie when they locate some of the stumps — the water level is low but the stumps are not showing. “They’re not far under there, but they’re not showing yet,” she said. Jigs and minnows are both working, but she had no specifics on jig colors. Also, catfish are being caught on hot dogs and liver.

It had been raining all day Thursday and she said run-off was dirtying up the water. Right now it’s dingy, she said.

White River
(updated 9-19-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake is at 654.23 feet msl, 5 feet below the established goal of 659 feet msl. Releases from the dam satisfy power demands and have been nominal, sticking to their recent pattern of minimum flows during the late evening and morning, followed by a quick rise to almost five units (15,000 cfs) later in the afternoon.

The brown trout bite is getting tricky. Patience wins out and is required to get the browns’ attention. Soft-shell crawdads are a favorite, in addition to the familiar sculpin.  Consistent water levels have allowed the trout to settle down into a normal feeding routine, so early morning and early evening are the best times for reliable catches. 

Float your bait just above the bottom — best to keep it in or near the river channel during low-water generation. The changes in water level will naturally necessitate revamping your bait and placement; cast a live worm or a dandy San Juan Fly near the bank as the water rises.

The rainbows continue to chase a shrimp/PowerBait merger, with orange and pink leading the color choice. Under an overcast, cloudy sky, work a Rooster Tail with a gold blade, pink body or a Blue Fox with a rainbow blade, gold bell. When the sun comes out, put the artificial baits away and return to the scented or live baits.

“Early fall is a great time to get on the water without having to sweat the temperature or the catch. Keep angling and we’ll see you on the river.”

(updated 9-19-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We needed the rain we received last weekend and because we were so dry the ground soaked up most of the water with very little runoff. The good news this week is we have seen more consistent water generation out of both Bull Shoals and Norfork dams. In the mornings we see lower water, around 3 feet (plus or minus) in the mornings with Bull Shoals water generated in the afternoon of the previous day arriving around 7 a.m. Water will rise to a depth between 5-6 feet before starting to drop.  Norfork has been generating water starting in the early afternoons and the water arrives late in the afternoon/early evening. Mornings start with dingier water, which clears up throughout the day. 

“This week we have seen a lot of success drift-fishing with the Uncommon Bait UV eggs and tipping the hook with raw shrimp with or without using a silver inline spinner.  Additionally this week, Rapala Countdowns (regular and/or the Elite version) in CD5 and CD7 in rainbow trout and brown trout colors have worked very well, resulting in numerous trout over 18 inches and several smallmouth bass over 14 inches. Calico Rock is known for its trout fishing, but there are also plenty of opportunities to catch some nice largemouth and smallmouth bass in this stretch of the river. Just remember: We are still considered trout waters, and even if you are targeting bass you still need a trout permit. 

“This week we received one stocking of 1,200 rainbow trout at the Calico Rock boat ramp and another 1,200 rainbows just upriver at the Chessmond Ferry boat ramp.”

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 9-19-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is still dropping slightly each day and is still around 654 feet msl. Water temperature Wednesday morning at 75 degrees, give or take a degree. They haven’t been running as much water this past week at the dam. Heads up! We have a Super BFL and a kayak tournament coming up and the lake will be busy this weekend.

Bass junk fishing has started. It has been fair, typical fall fishing. It’s pretty good when they move up during the hurricane weather. But it’s supposed to get hot again. Lots of bass are still set up on late-summer areas and patterns. It takes a while for this drink to cool down, guys. The thermocline is set up around 35 feet. Shad are spread out from the back of the creek out to the main lake. A lot of the dirty backs have shad but are starting to get that nasty, funky water. If we get the right powerfishing conditions, those fish will eat a Chatterbait, square bill, buzzbait or Whopper Plopper. I’m using shad colors. 

If it’s sunny and flat I’m going to check main lake mouths of creeks, on long points, ledges, piles, drop-offs and bluff ends as well as treetops that are close to deep water and with shad nearby. There are schools chasing shad balls, but they are cruising fast. For this, a flutter spoon or small swimbait will fool a few. You better be a good front-looker; having to hit them on the move isn’t easy. 

Overall, smaller baits have helped. It’s fall; the fish can be stubborn. For me, a drop-shot has been the deal. I know, not what you want to hear, but it is what it is. So, if you find them and get one or two to bite, you might as well go to the next spot.  You can still catch them off points and swings with a big worm or small Jewel Jig in green pumpkin variants, PB&J, or a tube or a shaky head in 10-20 feet early, then 25-35 feet of depth. Keep the boat out deep for long casts. There is still lots of activity around the 30- to 40-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 9-19-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing has been very slow this week with mostly small fish being caught.

“The best luck I have had this past week has still been the drop-shot rig and nightcrawler or a Robo Worm around pints with brush. Scan points on both sides and tips by zigzagging in 30-45 feet to find fish. Try to fish when the Corps of Engineers is moving water through the dam. This seems to help the bite some.

You can still use a No. 4 split shot and #No. 2 Aberdeen hook and a nightcrawler worked slowly around groups of fish or on deeper sides of brushpiles. This will catch some, especially when fishing is slow. Spooning with a three-quarter-ounce white spoon in water off main lake points in 30-45 feet will also get some fish. Tip: Cutting one of the hooks off a spoon’s treble hook will help reduce snags.

(updated 9-19-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are still mainly scattered in creeks on brushpiles. The bite is still somewhat finicky, but they have started biting a jig again a little bit. Minnows are also working, but if you pull up to fish and they don’t bite in the first 10 minutes, move on and find some more.

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

No reports.

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

(updated 9-19-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake has dropped around 1 foot in the last week and lake level is at 1,115.34 feet msl. Water temperature is in the 70s. Fishing has remained fair to good. 

Stripers have continued to be caught on shad from Point 6 up to the dam. Crappie are fair to good with roamers in the 20-feet range and on brush in 15-25 feet depth. The river arms are in a somewhat turnover phase with lots of algae and bubbles showing, and that’s a certain indicator that turnover is starting down in the south portion of the lake. 

Water dropping has fish starting to move in big movements. Keep your eye on your electronics, especially right now. The lake will get better slowly; unfortunately it’s going to get hot and slow the turnover down. 

“Hold on and things will fire up. Good luck!”

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

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 9-19-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said Wednesday that the tailwater has produced some pretty nice fish this past week. Water temperature has been staying consistent, with the Army Corps of Engineers letting water flow through the dam mostly in the evening hours. 

“We tried something a little different this week, using a Pautzke Fire eggs to float natural salmon eggs, which produced a nice number of fish. Quarter-ounce spoons and jigs have also produced nice trout. Most of the fish have been caught between the U.S. Highway 62 bridge and Houseman Access. Shore fishing is still pretty good at Parker Bottoms fishing light terminal tackle on the bottom. 

“As the weather starts to turn cooler and as the spawn starts to turn on, start looking for fish on flats. As always, I hope you’re 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 9-12-2024) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) says bass and crappie were both biting. Bass were good on a spinnerbait. Crappie were fair on worms. 

Lake Charles
(updated 9-12-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said fishing was fair for most species this week, but crappie didn’t provide any reports from anglers over the weekend. The water dropped 5 degrees again from Sunday to Sunday and was 74.4 degrees Sunday morning.

Bream are fair on worms, jigs and crickets. Black bass are being found shallow and are biting fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and bladed jigs. Make sure to focus on brush or rock points.  Catfish are fair on worms and chicken liver. No reports on white bass.

Water level is normal and the clarity is the usual murky. Shelly says the moon times are forecasting this Saturday through Sept. 20 as good fishing days.

Lake Poinsett
(updated 9-19-2024) Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park said had no new reports. Bass and crappie continue to be catch-and-release at Lake Poinsett.

Spring River
(updated 9-5-2024) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are low at 310 cfs and water clarity is clear. “River looks great with great clarity. Storms moving through can change conditions at any time.
“The trout have been hitting great. Lots of stockers in the river making for fun times and a great time to teach. After this month, stocking will be reduced for the winter season. This will make for slower catching, but will give us a chance to chase the big holdovers in the river. Winter can be a great time to chase the smallies, too.

The trout have been hitting great on Woollies and nymphs on good days, pink worms and Y2Ks on the tougher days, or just drop a tiny nymph down to the bottom. Use hot pink Trout Magnets right off the bottom for spin-fishing. A trout crank in rainbow or brown trout colors will sometimes get a big ol’ walleye to bite. They like eating the rainbow stockers. Lots of stockers out there right now, and I hope they get in the river system. Catch-and-release works and would make for bigger fish in the river, but I didn’t see that much this summer. We only catch-and-release! There is a limit of one fish over 14 inches, but they’ve got to get to that size first.
“The smallies have been hitting great this summer with the heat. The smallmouth bass are all up and down the Spring River, you’ve just got to fish for them. Big Woollies fished deep on the bottom work; I even had a client that fished his big olive zonked fly below an indicator and he wore them out. A D2 jig below a float works well — they are there but you have to fish for them! Safely catch and release all smallmouth bass; that’s the only way to keep big smallies in the river!
“Cool weather ahead, and it looks like a great fall and winter season coming up. Get ready, it’s coming!”
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 9-19-2024) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no new reports. Most recently, though, they reported that black bass had slid out to the outer edges and points of jetties, especially if wind was pushing on or across those points. Anglers should expect to find freshwater drum, white bass, striped bass, catfish and both spotted and largemouth bass hanging out on the same productive jetty points; so, if you get a bite on a jetty, keep casting to the same spot and nearby a few more times at least, as that fish likely was not alone. 

Brushpiles on sand drops and shady cover have been producing in Lake Langhofer, though these fish are more pressured and you must present lures to them several times to get bites in many cases. Buzzbaits and walking topwaters in shad colors are producing first thing in the morning, moving to swimming and finesse jigs in bluegill to craw patterns during the middle of the day when working water willows, jetties and brushpiles/woody cover. 

Small swimbaits in shad patterns are also producing near schooling areas. Always have a small topwater popper/walking bait, a weightless fluke or small swimbait on deck ready to take advantage of sudden schooling activity that could erupt anywhere at any time.

Cane Creek Lake
(updated 9-19-2024) Claire Humes at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said anglers reported fishing with minnows for crappie last Friday and Saturday. Angers were catching bream close to the spillway with crickets on Sunday.

Lake Monticello
(updated 9-19-2024) Anglers are reminded that if they venture out for some fishing on Lake Monticello while the lake continues to refill after being renovated, that all fish caught must be released immediately.
The Hunger Run Access is open to boat traffic. Reports are good of anglers catching nice-sided black bass now.

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

(updated 9-19-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said, “I am still on vacation but my guides tell me not a lot has changed, but water temperatures are beginning to come down considerably over the last couple weeks and Bass activity on surface shad continues to be good. I will be on vacation for most of the month of September. However, my guides and associates are keeping me abreast of changing conditions daily.  

“Clarity got muddy over the past week with high winds and storms. Water temps continue falling. Surface temperature is ranging 78-85 degrees. Cooler water temperatures can be found up Little River near Cossatot inflow ditch and Wilton Landing than on the main lake body.”

Millwood’s elevation is stable during the Army Corps of Engineers’ drawdown and lake elevation is 12 inches below normal pool at 258.3 feet msl. Millwood Lake Dam is releasing about 731 cfs and tailwater is holding near 225 feet.   

Use extreme caution in navigation during drawdown conditions. Underwater hazards, stumps and obstacles will be at or near surface pool, especially in boat lanes along the river and the main lake. The lake will be refilled to normal pool on Nov. 1. 

Clarity along Little River muddied in many locations this week with decreased river current. Heavy stain is found in most locations, and some areas further up Little River are heaviest, with river clarity ranging 2-3 inches visibility depending on location.  Clarity of oxbows will vary widely from normal stained to good visibility from 20-30 inches.

Mike’s guides related these highlights with the fishing activity by species:

* Good numbers of juvenile and adolescent largemouth bass are schooling in the mornings along various locations in Little River. The best bit over the past few weeks continues to be from dawn to around 9 a.m., but random schools of largemouths and Kentucky bass can begin surface breaking on threadfin shad at any given moment all morning long. We thought the schooling was done last week around 9:30 a.m., and around 10:30 or an hour later, they fired up again near the mouth of Jack’s Isle busting and chasing shad. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River are where we are seeing the most aggressive surface-schooling activities and are holding nice groups.  Bass are active early up to 2-4 pounds on topwaters, and cloud-cover mornings continue seeing best activity for the past few weeks, especially at dawn. Feeding activity levels have improved with the recent decrease of surface temperatures in the mid- to low 80-degree range over the past couple weeks during the mornings. 
There were numerous sections all along Little River this week where white bass, largemouths and Kentucky bass were schooling and surface breaking on threadfin shad from Jack’s Isle up Little River to Hurricane Creek, from 7-9 a.m. Another section of schooling bass was noted along Little River from the dump of Pugh Slough into Little River almost halfway down the south bank to Snake Creek. Best reactions are seen by using Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or chrome blue, Spin Trap Rat-L-Traps with a tail spinner in chrome/blue, Kastmaster Spoons, Smithwick Rogues and Brazalo Custom Lures Swim Jigs in Shad Cracker color, and Wee-Whacker Buzzbaits with a creature trailer in shad colors.

After the early morning bite slows, a random bite continues near creek dumps into Little River with a custom-painted, shad-pattern, shallow-running square-bill crankbait, as well as custom-painted shad-colored Little John crankbaits, by deflecting and banging/deflecting them off stumps in the mouth of the creek dump, and from 7-9 feet deep in creek channels and across points. Bass around 14-15 inches in length continue to randomly respond to crankbaits in shad and bream colors. Best color of cranks in the oxbows have been Echo 1.75 square bills and the Bill Lewis MR-6 in Millwood Magic and Ghost colors for the past couple of weeks or so. 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 have been Millwood Magic and White Smoke.  Bomber Fat Free Fry and Fingerlings in Tennessee Shad colors are also working near creek mouths and points extending into Little River for the past week or so for black bass and white bass. The drawdown has pulled 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.
* White bass were schooling along Little River with the largemouths during early mornings this week and continue hitting vertical-jigged half-ounce Slab Spoons and Rat-L-Traps in Little River between Jack’s Isle and the first entrance into Mud Lake, and also in Hurricane Creek, from 10-15 feet deep. With the drawdown in effect, many whites are found in close proximity to the Kentucky 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 Fry, Guppy and Fingerling crankbaits, and the Bill Lewis MR-6 Crankbaits in Citrus Shad, Tennessee Shad and Millwood Magic colors will draw reactions. Little George’s, Rocket Shads and red/white Rooster Tails continue working.   
* Crappie have continued to bite well from daylight to around noon over the past few weeks with water clarity improving in many locations. Locate planted brush piles in Horseshoe, Bee Lake, Millwood State Park or along Little River with the reduced current, and you’ll find they are holding nice schools of 1- to 2-pound slabs. The crappie are best using minnows one day, and jigs the next, or jigs tipped with a minnow, in planted brush piles 12-18 feet of depth. 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 jig head will pick up a few extra bites. 

* No reports on bream or 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.

(updated 8-29-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted that Greeson, like all the other big area lakes, is well below its full pool level, down about 5 feet. This is topwater time, he says. Use something that resembles a small shad; they are chasing tiny shad at this time. A quarter-ounce Rat-L-Trap in chrome and blue back or chrome and black back is a good place to start on this and other similar lakes now. If that doesn’t get their attention, switch to other small topwater baits to get some hits, or a small spoon or rise and pull them up; the fish are all focused on eating on top.

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

(updated 9-19-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted Wednesday night on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, that DeGray is 6 feet below full pool, and many of other lakes in the region as well as north to Greers Ferry and Bull Shoals are below full pool. “What all that math means, they’re all chasing little bitty shad. Topwater bite on all of our area lakes is incredible. You’ve got to go out there as much as you can. Just make sure you’re throwing a small lure. A small spoon, a small topwater bait, a riser — anything that is small because they’re all chasing shad about the size of your thumbnail, and you can catch fish literally all day long as long as there is cloud cover. The first two hours and the last two hours are the typical answer; we had a lot of cloud cover because the hurricane came through last week. The reports I’m getting is, literally, you can catch fish all day long as long as you go out there on a cloudy day and throw a topwater bait.

“Typically in the fall you’re talking about a smaller lure like a quarter-ounce Rat-L-Trap. Chrome/blue back, chrome/black back Rat-L-Trap in the creeks have caught thousands of fish every fall. They’re all on topwater right now, so even if you’re throwing a lure below the top, you’ve got to tip your rod tip at 12 o’clock and crank it high.”

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 9-19-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature 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 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. 

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. Feeding times are sporadic and can erupt anywhere from just below the dam to well past the bridge downstream.

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. This environment changes completely with the influx of rainbow trout in November. Weeks and months go by without quality action of any kind occurring, but adding thousands of catchable trout creates a situation where anglers can be successful.

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.

Lake Hamilton
(updated 9-5-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) continues to fish both Lake Hamilton and DeGray Lake and says the fishing remains the same as it was last week. 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.”

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 9-12-2024) Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025) reports that the Corps of Engineers drawdown continues and the lake level is being held at 10 feet below normal pool, or 337 feet msl — leaving only two ramps with 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. 

In their most recent report, they said that despite the drawdown, fishing was still going well and anglers are still catching crappie and catfish. The drawdown seems to have brought more catfish into play and they have been active for several weeks.

Some parts of the lake that are only about a foot deep. Boaters/anglers are urged to follow the buoys and “go slow!” 

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 9-19-2024) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted Wednesday night on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, that Lake Ouachita is 7 feet below full pool, Lake Ouachita is 7 feet below full pool and many of other lakes like it are well below full pool, from Greeson, to Nimrod and up to Bull Shoals. “What all that math means, they’re all chasing little bitty shad. Topwater bite on all of our area lakes is incredible. You’ve got to go out there as much as you can. Just make sure you’re throwing a small lure. A small spoon, a small topwater bait, a riser — anything that is small because they’re all chasing shad about the size of your thumbnail, and you can catch fish literally all day long as long as there is cloud cover. The first two hours and the last two hours are the typical answer; we had a lot of cloud cover because the hurricane came through last week. The reports I’m getting is, literally, you can catch fish all day long as long as you go out there on a cloudy day and throw a topwater bait.

“It doesn’t matter, it’s not just Ouachita. It’s all the lakes, DeGray, Greeson. … Typically in the fall you’re talking about a smaller lure like a quarter-ounce Rat-L-Trap. Chrome/blue back, chrome/black back Rat-L-Trap in the creeks have caught thousands of fish every fall. They’re all on topwater right now, so even if you’re throwing a lure below the top, you’ve got to tip your rod tip at 12 o’clock and crank it high.”

(updated 9-19-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said, “It’s crappie time already. We have produced limits of crappie on live bait under corks fished 12-18 feet depth over tops in 20-30 feet of water.” =

(updated 9-12-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are fair. Continue trying your topwater bait early and big Texas-rigged worms. Walleye are still good and being caught on nightcrawlers near structure with a drop-shot rig or Texas rig. No reports on stripers. Bream are still good and being caught on perch-colored hand grenades in the 15- to 25-foot range. No reports on crappie. For catfish, try stink bait or cut bait on a rod-and-reel setup in the 15- to 25-foot range.

Water temperature is in the 78-82 degree range. The water clarity is clear. Lake level is at 572.14 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

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

White River/Clarendon Area
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time gauge level and flow from Clarendon, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

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