Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

September 26, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Sky Haack of Omaha, Arkansas, returns to the top of the fishing report with another gorgeous catch in the Beaver Lake Dam tailwater, and Guide Austin Kennedy provides an artistic touch on the photo with a focus on the colorful rainbow trout. Kennedy says the fall temperature felt up there in recent days is great for the walleye bite as well as the rainbows and browns.

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 9-26-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said Thursday that the generation schedule has been pretty steady throughout September, with the Southwestern Power Administration typically running two units of water through the turbines starting around 2-3 p.m. They’ve been keeping it going for about 4-8 hours each day. As we head into cooler days, expect SWPA to dial back those releases a bit.
If you’re looking to get out on the water, the best action has been early in the morning, right as the water is falling out from the previous day’s release. For flies, the Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear and various midges have been hot picks lately. Now’s a good time to get out there!

Try fishing the deep plunge pools around moss beds, or any sections of moving water. The fish will be in the oxygenated shoals and the deeper plunge pools below the riffles. 

(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.

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 9-26-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level is at 456.09 feet msl, or more than 5½ feet below normal pool. Little else has changed. Fish are on top schooling in different parts of the lake and rivers, basically all over every bit of the lake now. 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 of 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 loners 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.

(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 singler 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.

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
(update 9-26-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) says there aren’t many major changes in Lake Maumelle fishing lately. Crappie are still hanging on or near brush in 20-26 feet of water. Water temperature ranges 77-82 degrees depending on the day. 

Standard bait profiles are performing great. Try Bobby Garland Baby Shad, Live Roam’R and Slab SlayR’s in your favorite colors. Also try original Crappie Magnets. Presentation is key. Anticipate crappie suspending away from brush as water temps drop below 75 degrees. 

The fall feast will begin any day now! Book your trip with Natural State Fishing today.

(updated 9-26-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported Thursday that the water temperature is unchanged this week, ranging 78-80 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair. They can be found shallow in the mornings in 2-5 feet, with some breaking but not staying up long. Others are being found deeper and scattered around brush anywhere from 10-20 feet. Try points and drop-offs. Try using drop-shots, Texas-rigged worms, topwater lures, jigs and crankbaits. Spotted bass (aka Kentucky bass) are good. Reports of them being found on drop-offs in 15-20 feet. Try using drop-shots and jigs. 

Crappie are fair. Reports of crappie being found suspended around brush anywhere from 18-23 feet. Try using jigs and minnows. Bream have slowed down. They can be founds around brushpiles in 10-15 feet. Crickets, redworms and drop-shots are your best bet.

No reports of late on white bass or catfish. If the whites are going to bite, it will be on a twister tail, most likely. Little bream, liver and worms typically attract catfish now.

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 bass 

Flow is is pretty slow, sticking around 15,000-30,000. Not like a lake but nothing to be oto afraid of..

The are still biting on the main channel. With square bills on jetties. And also drop-shots and finesse jigs on the jetties. 

With the weather stARtint to change and get cooler, lot of fish starting to go back into the backwater. So you can catch tem 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 on green adn chartreuse Crappie Magnet with a one-sixteenth-ounce jighead. 

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 9-26-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “We just fell into fall and our Ozarks weather is perfect for an outing on the river. Trout fishing the White River waters near Cotter is great, and in a typical September day you’ll see many rainbows and very likely a brown or two. Releases from Bull Shoals Dam are at minimum flow or less (700 cfs) with a burst in the late evening bringing the

river level to 12,000 cfs (four units) for an hour or two. The lake is steadily falling to 653.38 feet mls, and is almost 8 feet below power pool for this time of year.”
Wade anglers will find many accessible locations. Be alert and always have an exit plan if you see a change in water level. John boaters will find it slow and go, a must-stay in the main channel of the river.

Any pink scented egg bait (Berkley PowerBait or XFactor) and shrimp are reliable baits to provide a lot of action for rainbows. Peach and brown flashy baits (1/8 oz. maribou or D2 jigs, quarter-ounce with the higher water), gold Cleos or bronze Colorado spoons were a sure bet this past week. Catch a sculpin or two to put on your hook for brown trout bait. Crawdads are still causing a stir and should be great bait for at least another month before it gets too cold.
Planning your fall/winter fishing trip? Your weather check should include a study of the nighttime lows as well as the daytime highs. Assume your day will start at the lowest temperature from the night before and may even be several degrees colder on the water. Layer up and you’ll enjoy your trip a whole lot more.

(updated 9-26-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “It has been a great week of fishing around Calico Rock. It wasn’t uncommon for boats to land over 100 fish in a day. Late last week and into the weekend we saw water depths starting around 4 feet in the mornings and rising to 6-7 feet before dropping again in the afternoons. There has been some dinginess to the water in the morning and then clearing throughout the day. On Monday we had low and clear water and by Tuesday we were back to low water in the morning but only rising to between 5-6 feet.
“No matter the fishing conditions, we saw a lot of success with drift-fishing using shrimp with Uncommon Baits Eggs with ultraviolet Neo Pink eggs being the most popular, but also a combination of one UV orange and one white egg also working well. Others reported success using silver inline spinners with the Uncommon Bait eggs and tipping the hook with worms. 

“Drift-fishing with sculpins resulted in some nice trout over 18 inches to include a fat 22-inch hook jaw male weighing over 5 pounds at the dock but probably closer to 6 pounds when caught.
“During the lower water, quarter-ounce Thomas Colorado spoons in nickel/gold or Thomas Bouyant spoon in rainbow trout colors resulted in plenty of fish being caught. Rapala Countdowns size 5 and size 7 in brown trout colors worked very well for larger rainbows and browns. Keep an eye on the weather Friday — we are expecting 1.5 inches or more of rain. The fish don’t seem to mind the rain as long as the river doesn’t rise and get muddy.

“This week the AGFC’s Kent Coffey, a trout bologist, used the pontoon raft to stock over 5,000 rainbow trout from the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery between the confluence of the Norfork and White down to a few miles below Calico Rock. The use of the raft allows fish to be spread out and stocked in those areas not close to normal stocking locations and repopulate some of the lesser known ‘honey holes.’”

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 t o 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 9-26-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake dropped around 1 foot last week and is sitting at 1,114.54 feet msl. “At this rate, we will be touching some low levels unless we get some good fall rains.
“This means you need to start paying attention to areas that will start to come into play when navigating the lake.”
Stripers are fair and are located from Prairie Creek down to the dam. “Fish are starting to move; so, as I always state, your electronics will be your best friend for the next month. Fish will start migration back towards Horseshoe and Hickory Creek in the next month.
“(Tuesday) the thermocline was barely visible around Horseshoe. So the turnover continues to drop and soon will be a distant memory.
“Crappie are starting to really bunch up on brush. Look from 10-20 feet and that’s where I have been catching them. I am using 4-pound test and 1/32-ounce jigheads and using Crappie Slammers in pink lemonade and getting those fish to bite even though they are in a fairly negative mood right now. This is typical for this time of year as oxygen levels are all over the place right now.
“Bass are loaded on the same brush as crappie and we are catching them on swimbaits like the 3-inch Keitech on ⅛-ounce jigheads. Mostly spotted bass, but they are fun to catch and good table fare, plus AGFC wants to thin them out.
“Weather is good so get out and enjoy the lake.”
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 9-26-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said Wednesday, “Fall is here!!! You know what that means? Not only do we get cooler weather, but we also get another shot at them walleye! Even though there will not be spawn numbers in the tailwater, there will be some nice ones to be had.
“I would troll in 8-14 feet of water, or work a jerkbait around drop-offs, chunk rock and inside bends. Adding a little bit of Walleye Fire Gel to your hard baits never hurts, either. The trout are getting ready for their fall spawn, so they will be on the chew for quite some time. Fishing light terminal tackle with Fire Bait or Fire Eggs has been our go-to method — as well as casting quarter-ounce spoons, along with Rooster Tails. You want to focus between the U.S. Highway 62 bridge and Houseman Access. Don’t be afraid to fish the afternoon hours as well. 

“If the Corps of Engineers is generating, drifting Fire Worms and Fire Minnows has been putting a lot of fish in the boat. Don’t forget to check out my Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) for weekly updates. I hope your able to get out, enjoy the weather and catch some fish!”

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 9-26-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said lake temperature had fallen to 77.3 degrees by Sunday morning, but that didn’t make the crappie respond any better than the previous couple of weeks, as the water rose to a high level following a lot of rain with the usual murky clarity.
Black bass are biting, however, with crankbaits and square bills working well. And catfish are biting well on cut bait and marshmallows. Bream have disappeared and anglers are waiting for a return of the crappie as the temperature drops.

As we move into October, the “moon times” indicate the first of the month are the best days for fishing, Oct. 1-5, with good days expected Oct. 14-20.

Lake Poinsett
(updated 9-26-2024) 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 9-26-2024) 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 9-26-2024) Teresa Atchley at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said that last Friday, minnows were getting a good workout from anglers fishing for anything off the exterior period. On Saturday, boat anglers reported using minnows to catch crappie, while another angler in a boat reported catching 10 bream by the damaged dock that floated into the lake.
Sunday, reports came from anglers of catching “a bunch” of crappie from their boat. Another angler at midweek said he caught a limit of large crappie from his boat, fishing around that damaged dock that found its way into the lake.

Lake Monticello
(updated 9-26-2024) 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 9-26-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District’s drawdown on Millwood Lake continues for planting millet for ducks, to improve shoreline vegetation and promote sediment compaction. For more information, contact the Millwood Project Office at 870-898-3343. The biggest changes the last couple weeks have been clarity and water temperature dropping to a 70- to 80-degree range. “I am still on vacation, but my contacts and guide buddies tell me not a lot has changed. Clarity got heavily stained with the recent thunderstorms and high winds, and the river was muddy. Cold fronts coming through continue dropping water temps for the past two weeks.”
Millwood elevation is now about 16 inches below normal pool, at 257.9 ft-msl, and Millwood Lake Dam is releasing about 1,700 cfs; the tailwater is near 227 feet and falling. The Corps’ drawdown ends Nov. 1.
Use extreme caution in navigation during these conditions. Underwater hazards, stumps and obstacles will be at or near surface pool, especially in the boat lanes along the river and main lake. 

Clarity along Little River has been heavily stained in most locations for past couple weeks with river current. It’s now moderate stain to muddy in most locations, with some areas further up Little River being heaviest, and river clarity ranging 8-15 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility in the oxbows will vary widely from normal stained to good visibility from 20-30 inches. 

Here are the most recent fishing specifics from Mike’s guides: 

* “Well, I am still on vacation, but I’ve got to admit, these cold fronts in south Arkansas are sure a welcome change lately,” Siefert said. “I can’t stop thinking how these lower water temperatures excite the bass and crappie, and how these bass are already schooling in Little River at numerous locations, gets me fired up.”

The biggest changes over the past few weeks continue to be the cooler weather and river temperatures for largemouth bass. The best bite of the day for largemouth bass for the past couple weeks can literally be an explosion of activity on threadfin shad at any point and time of the day. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River are where the largemouth, Kentucky bass and white bass collectively have been following shad — from 8-10 feet across creek channel points dumping into Little River to 10-15 feet deep in the center of the creek channel mouth, and holding numerous groups of different age classes. Bass are can fire up on shad almost anytime of day and can remain active 5-20 minutes each time, and with bass sizes ranging up to 2-3 pounds on various topwaters, crankbaits and spoons. Feeding activity levels can be random — more in the mornings up til mid-day, but randomly occurring during the afternoon.
There were numerous sections all along Little River this week from 9 a.m.-noon where largemouths and Kentucky bass were schooling and surface-breaking on threadfin shad from the second entrance to Mackintosh Bend and up Little River to Hurricane Creek. Schooling bass were noted in another section along Little River from the dump of Pugh Slough into Little River almost halfway down the south bank to Snake Creek. Best reactions for the schooling bass have come using Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or Chrome Blue, Kastmaster Spoons, Pop-R’s, Little John and Bomber Fat Free Guppy crankbaits.
Brazalo Custom Spinnerbaits in Arkansas River Shad color, Brazalo Wee-Whacker with a Beaver-style trailer, soft plastic frogs, Cordell Crazy Shads and Chuggers are good fished at daylight near creek channel dumps on primary points into Little River with stumps and vegetation. Buzzbait colors drawing the best reactions lately are black/blue, Hot Firecracker or Hot Cotton Candy. The best buzzbait bite working is along Little River depths and drops across points, and also flats near creek channel swings, with stumps and laydowns and around lily pads. Cordell Crazy Shads, Arbogast Jitterbugs and plastic frogs are all getting fair to good reactions in creek channels near stumps, cypress trees and near lily pads stands along Little River. Schooling activity can fire up at most any time of day, so keep a Rat-L-Trap, crankbait, Spoon or a Zara Spook you can throw about 30-40 yards when they fire up on river shad.
The majority of schooling bass range 12-15 inches in length and are randomly schooling and hitting crankbaits in shad colors. Best color of cranks in the oxbows — like the 2.0 S-cranks and Echo 1.75 Square Bbills — for the past couple weeks or so have been Millwood Magic, Cchrome/blue and Ghosts. Increasing size up to a ¾-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. Our custom-painted Little John Crankbaits even caught two bass at a time in a recent trip.

Vertical jigging spoons are still working with Kentucky and white bass and several schools of largemouths in Little River behind points and washouts. We have been using Cotton Cordell Hammered Spoons with added bucktails over the past couple of weeks.
* 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 first entrance into Mud Lake, and also in Hurricane Creek from 10-15 feet deep. Little River has improved clarity on primary or secondary points. Whites are roaming back down Little River to 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 black bass, all feeding on threadfin shad.
Heavy ¾-ounce Cordell Hammered Spoons, Kastmaster chrome/blue spoons with white bucktails, or Bomber Fat Free Guppy or Fingerling Crankbaits, and the Bill Lewis MR-6 Crankbaits in Citrus Shad, Tennessee Shad and Millwood Magic colors will draw reactions. Little George’s, Rocket Shads and red/white Rooster Tails continue working.
* Crappie are fair to good over the past few weeks but have slowed in many locations where stain and mud lines were moving into the oxbows and staining up the river. Locating planted brushpiles in Pugh Slough, Horseshoe, Bee Lake Millwood State Park or Saratoga from 8-12 feet deep gave up some nice slabs over the past few weeks, but action and activity was random. The crappie are best using minnows one day and jigs the next, or jigs tipped with a minnow, in planted brushpiles; 8-10-14 feet of depth seem to be holding the best-size crappie up to 2 pounds. Electric Chicken, black/chartreuse, and red/white tube jigs and hair jigs were catching some fish recently. Cordell smoke-colored grubs with a chartreuse tip tail on a light wire jighead will pick up a few extra bites.
* Bream were biting fair to good off the shoreline at Millwood State Park late last week using crickets, redworms and minnows.
* No report 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.

(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 9-26-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature is 62 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has ended the weekend recreational releases until next summer and encourages the public to view the weekly generation schedule in order to obtain an accurate flow release on Lake Catherine. This information can be found on the Entergy Hydro website (linked above) under Lake and Flow News.
This summer was a typical up-and-down cycle of fish activity that involved mostly white bass and hybrid bass that migrated in and out of the tailrace chasing threadfin shad schools. These baitfish move toward the dam in early May to spawn and normally inhabit the area into the month of August. The last three years have been a total bust for rainbow trout fishing on Lake Catherine. Constant flooding kept anglers off the lake for months due to high water and dangerous flows from the dam. Thousands of trout were forced to move downstream away from the dam and these fish never returned, making the season shorter than normal and ruining any chance for the public to catch rainbow trout on a consistent basis. 

The AGFC has done its part in following the trout stocking schedule, but Mother Nature has taken a toll on quality trout fishing on Lake Catherine the last several years. Hopefully, this season will begin on a high note weather-wise as the fall trout stocking season is scheduled to begin in mid-November. 

There have been a few recent reports of walleye being caught below the bridge trolling crankbaits against the current. These fish spawn in the tailrace in early February and remain for several months to rest before migrating downstream toward the main body of the lake. Because of the abundance of food near the dam, numbers of walleye are present year-round and can be taken by fishermen using live bait and artificials during times of generation. 

Sporadic topwater action has been observed in the early morning below the dam by hybrid and white bass that are feeding on threadfin and gizzard shad. Prop and spinnerbaits have taken numbers of these feeding fish this week, although the action has been short-lived.
Always follow all park and lake regulations and cooperate with law enforcement when visiting Carpenter Dam. Pick up after yourself as the number of trash cans are limited in the park area. 

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 9-5-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) had no new new report. He has been focusing on Lake Ouachita (see below).

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 9-27-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said, “The crappie have been doing well for me with live bait over brushpiles fished 12-14ft deep. Spotted Bass are surface feeding early and hitting everything from spoons to soft plastic swimbaits.”

(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 handgrenades 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.

Cook’s Lake
(updated 9-12-2024) The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) says fishing has concluded at Cooks Lake for the season. 

Will says they hope “to reopen in the spring when the water level allows. Hopefully the fishing will be much better next season.” The lake from this point will serve as a waterfowl rest area for migrating birds until fishing resumes in 2025.

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. Call 501-404-2321 for more information.

White River/Arkansas River (Pool 2)
(updated 9-26-2024) Webb’s Sporting Goods (870-946-0347) in DeWitt (1970 S. Whitehead Drive) reports that crappie are biting in rivers around structures. LiveScoping is the best way to locate the fish. 

“Deer season is opening up this weekend in Arkansas for all archers! It’s looking like cooler temps and maybe some rain to go with this opening day. In the Delta, we are seeing deer bust up and move away from their bachelor groups! Should be a good opening weekend for the state of Arkansas. We want to wish all the archers good luck and as always thanks for shopping with us at Webb’s Sporting Goods!”

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