Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

October 10, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Victor Vasquez displays this big and beautiful Lake Maumelle crappie he caught last weekend while fishing with crappie guide Eric Watts. Check out more of Eric’s first report from Lake Maumelle below as well as more fishing news from around the state.

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

NOTE: For anglers using the privately owned Beaverfork Lake in Faulkner County, especially with Lake Conway being drawn down for renovation, according to the Conway Parks and Recreation Dept. They began their every-five-year winter drawdown of Beaverfork last week. This routine maintenance is done to allow landowners to do maintenance to their piers, boathouses and shorelines. Although the ramps will eventually be unusable, a primitive ramp at the end of Volleyball Point provides a way to launch smaller boats. They will resume refilling the lake Jan. 1.

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 10-3-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said anglers have been stopping there and heading on to Lake Overcup or Beaverfork Lake. They were buying redworms and minnows for bream and crappie. “Around (Lake Conway), the fishing has pretty much died down unless they go to the (Lake Conway) Nursery Pond. We’re selling minnows worms and crickets for those folks, and they’re catching mostly catfish and bream. We hear the Arkansas River has been good for bass fishing. We’re selling spinnerbaits and soft plastic worms for those anglers.”

Anyone venturing out to what are little fishing holes on Lake Conway, due to its drawdown for renovation, most recently were catching plenty of catfish on nightcrawlers.

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 planned 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 10-10-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said Thursday that fishing on the Little Red River has been steady, with some great opportunities to hook up with some nice trout. The generation schedule has been fairly consistent for the past month, with Southwestern Power Administration running two generators Monday through Friday typically starting around 2 p.m. and going until 7-9 p.m. However, with cooler weather rolling in, the power demand might drop, so keep an eye out for potential changes to this schedule in the coming weeks. Weekend water releases have been lighter than during the week, giving anglers a bit more time with low water.

The bite has been best in the early mornings when you’re fishing the falling water from the previous night’s generation. Focus on those oxygenated shoals and deeper plunge pools just below them, where trout are taking refuge. The moss beds in these deeper sections are holding plenty of fish, as they offer cooler water and shelter from the sun.

“Lately, I’ve been fishing a Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle or a Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear fly, rigged at about 4-5 feet deep in the shallows and up to 6 feet in the deeper runs. Adding a midge dropper below can be a game changer.
“For those looking to chase brown trout, the streamer bite has been solid during the high water as it falls out from the night’s generation. In the mornings, throwing streamers like Double Deceivers and Peanut Envy flies has been productive, then we’re switching over to a nymph rig as the water drops later in the day.
“Get out there and enjoy these cooler fall days — it’s a great time to fish the Little Red!”

(updated 10-10-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that trout anglers are catching fishing on one-eighth-ounce Rooster Tails in a shad pattern, and they are also catching some throwing a black and brown Woolly Bugger. The folks who like the Trout Magnet are floating a pink Trout Magnet worm about a foot and a half off the bottom and having a lot of success, too.

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 10-10-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level is at 455.12 feet msl, almost a full foot drop from a week ago — almost 7 feet below normal pool. Little else has changed with the lake or the fishing. Fish are still schooling on top 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.

Crappie are still super shallow and out to 30 feet. 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 45-65 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. Most bream are 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 10-10-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that anglers out early in the morning are picking up black bass by using a bone-color or clear walk-the-dog style bait.

Crappie are in about 15-20 feet of water on tops of brushpiles, and they can be caught using a 1/16-ounce jighead with a white minnow-style bait.

Smallmouth bass are mainly chasing shad in 15-20 feet of water, and they seem to be very interesting in Alabama rigs with a 3.3-inch swimbait.

Harris Brake Lake
(updated 10-10-2024) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) had no new reports.

Lake Overcup
(updated 10-10-2024) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing off Arkansas Highway 9 had no new reports, but said that recently that bream were starting to slow down but are being caught on crickets and redworms. Black bass were doing well, feeding on shad early morning and late evening.
Catfish were doing well on trotlines and jugs. Crappie were doing well in 12-14 feet of water using jigs and minnows.

Lake Maumelle
(update 10-10-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) says fall transition is here! Well, sort of. Lake Maumelle water temps are low to mid-70s depending on time of day. Water is stained and turning over. Crappie are lingering in 22-28 feet of water. Try Bobby Garland Live Roam’R’s and Leland’s Lure’s Crappie Magnet around brush. Be patient! Water clarity is darker than usual. It may take the fish a little longer to recognize your bait! Text or call at the number listed above, or visit www.nsfguide.com.

(updated 10-10-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported Thursday that water temperature has continued to drop and is ranging 71-73 degrees, about 5 degrees less than a week ago.

Largemouth bass remain fair. They can be found shallow in the mornings and evenings in 1-5 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) also are fair. Reports have them being found scattered on drop-offs in 10-20 feet. Try using drop-shots and jigs.
White bass are being heard from again, finally. They are fair, and there have been reports of them schooling in certain areas in the evenings. Try using twister tails and crankbaits.

Crappie are biting well. They are reportedly being found suspended around brush Bream are slow. They can be found around brush piles at 10-15 feet depth. Try using crickets, worms and drop-shots. Catfish also are slow. One report said they could be found around 12 feet deep. Try using bream, liver and worms.

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 10-10-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said fishing is picking up and the crappie news from the last few days has been very encouraging. One crappie angler has been doing very well in 3 feet of water around lily pads, using minnows and picking up “some nice ones,” Ray said.

Two bass anglers have been out every afternoon this week catching several bass on topwater baits, crankbaits and soft plastic worms. A couple of catfish anglers have been putting out their trotlines and catching lots of catfish using live bream and cut bait.

“I haven’t heard much on the bream, but they bite all the time around here,” Ray added. “It may be beginning to pick up with these cool nights and the water cooling down.”

Water is clear and at a normal level and in good shape, he reports.

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 10-10-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports that bass are back up in the creeks, and they’ve been very receptive to a Strike King 1.5 square bill, mainly in a shad pattern. You can catch fish in the mouths of creeks on a Strike King 3XD, or if there is rock you should try a half-ounce football jig.

Early in the morning, the most successful approach seems to be throwing a topwater walking bait, either in bone color or clear, to pick up some nice bass.

White River
(updated 10-10-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said daily water releases from Bull Shoals Dam into the teeming White River tailwater have been variable throughout the last week: minimum flow during the early morning followed by high generation (up to four units or 12,000 cfs) in the evening before dropping back to minimum flows the next day. Bull Shoals Lake is almost 8 feet below seasonal power pool of 659 feet msl elevation, currently sitting at 651.71 feet msl.

Can an angler really get tired of catching fish? We’ve heard tales that some say their casting arms are worn out, reeling in over 50 rainbows in a 4-hour morning trip. Maybe … but I like to keep trying anyway! If you prefer bait, the guides have found red wiggler worms to be the ticket. Backing them up with shrimp and orange or sunrise egg patterns adds to the count. For a little more challenge, but still producing a nice creel count, anglers have been casting spinners (pink bodied Rooster Tails are champ).

Spoons are another great choice in this lower water. The gold Cleo is moving into first place again after a few years of obscurity.

The brown bite remains fickle; your best bet is to get your hands on fresh river minnows or varied sizes of sculpins and dangle them near the bottom. It’s easy to see all that we have to be thankful for as we look around the hills and waterways here in the Ozarks. Respect the gifts we’ve been given and enjoy all The Natural State has to offer.

(updated 10-10-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “This week we’ve seen water rising and becoming dingy early in the morning, cresting around midday and clearing throughout the afternoon. Fishing has been steady using Uncommon Bait UV Neo Pink eggs with shrimp. When possible, boats have been going downriver in the mornings to get ahead of the rise and are fishing using lures such as the Thompson Colorado quarter-ounce spoon in nickel/gold or Rapala CD5 Countdowns in brown trout colors.

“In the afternoon, boats head upriver to catch the dropping and clearer water fishing with Uncommon Bait UV Neo Pink or UV Bright Orange eggs with shrimp. The fish see the ultraviolet eggs better.

“This week the AGFC used the pontoon stocking raft to stock 4,000 rainbows between Calico Rock and the Sylamore Creek area.”

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 10-10-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is 651 feet msl, and the water temperature is 74 degrees “give or take.”

Del says, “Fall junk fishing has started. Bass fishing has been fair, typical for this time of year. Water seems to be turning over. Fishing can be pretty good when they move up during the low light or the Corps of Engineers has generation or a front is moving in. Lots of bass are still set up on late summer areas and patterns. It takes a while for this drink to cool down.”

Shad are spread out from the back off the creeks out to the main lake. There are shad sitting high on the surface down to 50 feet; however, topwater has been hit or miss. Use a smaller popper or smaller walk-the-dog early. Match the hatch.
A lot of the dirty backwaters have shad but are bubbling moss and dirty or turning over. “If we get the right powerfishing conditions, those fish will eat a Chatterbait, square bill. crankbait. I’ll use a buzzbait or Plopper all day if it’s windy, using shad colors. If it’s sunny and flat I’m going to check the main lake, the mouths of creeks, on long points, ledges, piles, drop-offs and bluff ends, or treetops that are close to deep water and shad is nearby. There are large schools chasing shad balls but they are cruising fast. For this, you need a Flutter Spoon, Tater Shad or small, heavy swimbait that will fool a few. You’d better be a good front-looker — having to hit ’em on the move isn’t easy.
“Overall, smaller baits have helped. It’s fall and the fish can be stubborn. For me, a drop-shot has been good when it’s tough conditions. 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 piles with a big worm or small Jewel Jig in green pumpkin variants, PB&J, or a tube or a shaky head.
“Welcome to fall fishing. Catch one on the surface down to 50 feet. 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 10-10-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) say the walleye fishing has been a little better this week. Fishing patterns are still the same as the last two weeks, just a little deeper. “I have been catching a few trolling at around 40 feet on various types of crankbaits. However, the best luck I have had lately has still been a drop-shot rig and nightcrawler or a Robo Worm around points with brush or trees close by. Walleye seem to be moving deeper. Scan points on both sides and tips by zigzagging in 40-55 feet to find fish. You can still just use a Carolina rig with half-ounce egg sinker and No. 2 Aberdeen hook and nightcrawler worked slowly around groups of fish on the deeper sides of brushpiles. This will also get you some fish, especially when fishing is slow. Spooning with a 1-ounce white spoon or any type of glide minnow or Ice Jig in water off main lake points or secondary points in 40-55 feet will also get you some fish.

Water temperature is running around 71 degrees early in the morning and with the water cooling off there should be a late evening jerkbait bite about the start up soon.

(updated 10-10-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says they are still finding crappie scattered on brush in the creeks, and the bite seems to be changing daily. Some days are pretty tough with so much bait in the vicinity. Main lake has been hit and miss when you can find them on brush. Minnows have been best lately, but they’re still catching a few on jigs on certain days. A one-eighth-ounce jig has been their choice when they throw one. Better quality still seems to be on the deeper brushpiles, when you can find them.

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 10-10-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake dropped another foot and now is at 1,113.15. 8 feet msl, below normal level, while water temperature is in the low 70s.

Stripers continue to bite well. Look for fish from Horseshoe down to the dam. “Electronics are your friends this time of year. Fish are moving. They will continue to move south as soon as the water cools into the 60s.
“I was up in the White arm (Thursday) and the water had a really nasty color to it, which always happens during lake turnover.

Crappie were a tough get Wednesday. Fish are located on brush in and around 15-20 feet of water.
“Walleye are very scattered and they are really tough right now. If we can continue to drop water temps the bite will improve.

“Seen some nice, albeit very dry, weather the past few days. Get out and enjoy; just be aware that hazards are beginning to show. Good luck!”

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

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 10-10-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said Wednesday, “This is some awesome fall weather we are having so far, and with that comes the fall spawn. The trout are definitely active, and fishing has been good. We have primarily been focusing our time in and around the Spider Creek area, using dough baits and eggs fished with light terminal tackle. Quarter-ounce spoons and jigs have also done nicely. The Army Corps of Engineers has been moving water in the late afternoon hours. When this happens, we have been drifting soft plastics along with trolling. This method has produced some nice numbers. We have been catching some walleye between Houseman Access and Beaver town, using live bait or pulling crawler harnesses. Try to focus in the 12-feet-of-water range when doing so.
“I hope you all are able to get out and enjoy this weather and catch some fish!” Check out Austin’s Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) for weekly updates.

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 10-3-2024) 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 10-10-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said lake temperature rose slightly from the previous week, being recorded as 73.9 degrees on Sunday, and the water had fallen to a normal level after a couple of weeks where it was high. Crappie continued their bite, improving to good, but everything else fell out.

Only one bass was caught according to anglers, and this was caught on a homemade lure. Crappie are good in shallow water on jigs. No reports on bream, catfish or white bass.

Look for good fishing days, based on “moon times,” Oct. 14-20. No matter the bite, Lake Charles and the State Park are beautiful to visit in October.

Lake Poinsett
(updated 10-10-2024) 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 10-10-2024) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water at the Spring is flowing 250 cfs (350 cfs is average) and water clarity has been murky. “Very dry in the area and we could use a good rain. Over the last few weeks, work to remove vegetation above Dam 1 in Mammoth Spring has affected the water in town with poor clarity; it settles by Dam 3 and fishing has been great from Dam 3 down. The work has been completed this week and water should clear up by the weekend.
“This weather has been perfect for casting flies to fish! Hopper droppers have been working great with nymphs early to imitate heavy blue dun hatches, and as the sun gets above, pink worms, El Diablo’s, nymphs, whatever will work. Nymphing has been very hot. Still a lot of hatchery trout from the summer season.
“As cold sets in, big fish will start moving. November to February is the best time to chase big trout on the Spring River. Woolies in olive, brown, black and white can be very hot at times for the big fish. Bead heads sizes 6-10 work well. Hot pink Trout Magnets are really hot with the low, clear water with spinning tackle. Get it just off the bottom and, yes, use the small split shot about 4 inches up. I don’t know why they just eat it up.
“Smallies are still getting caught, but can be harder to find with cold nights. Once cold sets in, the smallies should settle down for some great cold-weather smallmouth catching. We have only landed a few 20-inch smallies on the river, and winter is when we have caught a 20-incher. In cooler weather, indicator streamer fishing works great, slowing down the presentation for the cold temps. D2 Jigs are great for this technique for spin-fishing. Easy and fun. Working a sink tip can be the most exciting, watching the bass chase the fly. Always fun to catch those hard-fighting champions, the smallmouth bass!
“There are new Porta-Potties at all of the public accesses. Big thank-you to AGFC for making that happen. Let us all help to keep them clean!
“As it gets colder out, there will be safe wading the Spring River, but it is very slick and can be very tricky to wade. A wading staff and good wading boots can be a life saver. When you do fall in, get somewhere warm fast.”

Refer to Mark’s blog for the latest river conditions on the Spring River on his website linked above when heading out.

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 10-10-2024) 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 10-10-2024) Teresa Atchley at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said the lake has been a little slow in drawing anglers lately. Last Saturday, anglers were using redworms and fishing for anything from the interior pier. The next day, they reported fishing with nightcrawlers for anything from the interior pier as well as trying the exterior pier and using redworms hoping to catch anything that would bite. Monday was the same: redworms at the exterior pier with the hopes of anything biting.
On Tuesday of this week, an angler rolled in with crappie he’d caught on minnows, but he would not reveal exactly where on the lake.
With this weather and drop in water temperature, this should be a good time to take in Cane Creek Lake for some crappie with minnows or a jig.

Lake Monticello
(updated 10-10-2024) 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-sized 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 10-10-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, continues its drawdown on Millwood Lake to plant millet for ducks, to improve shoreline vegetation, and to promote sediment compaction. For more information, contact the Millwood Project Office at 870-898-3343. Millwood elevation Thursday was about 17 inches below normal conservation pool at 257.8 feet msl, and Millwood Lake Dam is releasing about 160 cfs while the tailwater elevation is near 223 feet and steady. The drawdown is scheduled to conclude on Nov. 1.

Millwood State Park boat ramps remain closed for several weeks while the AGFC battles the invasive species of grass, a recently discovered Cuban bulrush, which is an invasive plant species located within the Millwood State Park cove. It has additionally been found at Yarborough Landing boat dock and boat ramps. The AGFC, the Millwood U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Millwood State Park are all collaborating to reduce the risk of spreading this invasive plant elsewhere within Millwood Lake and other lakes throughout Arkansas. In order to do so, both boat ramps at Millwood State Park are temporarily closed. A containment boom was placed across the cove to prevent traffic in the area and keep the plant from drifting elsewhere throughout the lake. Herbicide was to be applied where Cuban bulrush was observed, and it is hoped that boat ramps will open again after the vegetation has been given several weeks to expire. Please avoid this area until access has been reopened.

The biggest change at Millwood the last couple of weeks have been clarity slowly improving with reduced current in Little River and water temps dropping. Cold fronts coming through continue dropping water temps, and this week they have ranged 65 degrees early to 77 later in the day along Little River.

Mike had these specifics for the fishing:

* What a great time of year to take a kid fishing! Largemouth bass have been schooling and breaking on shad in random locations for several weeks and continue schooling in Little River. This is truly one of my favorite times of year to fish, when a lot of my friends are building deer feed plots or working on their shooting lanes and the bass are going bonkers feeding on shad.

An explosion of activity on threadfin shad can happen at any point and time of the day. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River are where the largemouth, Kentucky 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 can fire up on shad almost any time of day, and can remain active 5-20 minutes each time, and the bass range from 2-3 pounds on various topwaters, crankbaits and spoons. Feeding activity levels can be random, more in the mornings up till midday, but randomly occur during the afternoon.
The best reactions for the schooling bass are while using Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or Chrome Blue, Kastmaster Spoons, Pop-R’s, and Little John and Bomber Fat Free Guppy crankbaits.

Brazalo Custom Spinnerbaits in River Shad and Spot Remover colors or a Brazalo Wee-Whacker with a Beaver-style trailer will get a random hits when the schooling fires up, but when the surface activity moves into the dense lily pad stands or grass, a soft plastic Horny Toad or Bass Assassin 5-inch Shad in Houdini or Pumpkinseed will work best in the lily pads. Along the edges of grass in the Little River, good choices are the Cordell Crazy Shads in chrome/blue or black back both will work, and a clear Baby Torpedo will draw a reaction from these feeding bass near creek channel dumps on primary points into Little River. Buzzbait colors drawing the best reactions lately are Shad/Blue Glimmer, Firecracker or Hot Cotton Candy.
Buzzbait reactions have slowed somewhat, and the largemouth seem to prefer a surface bait that is stopping and starting randomly, like the chrome Cordell Crazy Shads, clear Baby Torpedo or a Smithwick Rogue in Clown color along Little River. However, the schooling activity can fire up at most any time of day, so keep a Rat-L-Trap, a crankbait, a spoon or a Zara Spook you can throw about 30-40 yards when they fire up on river shad.
Best color of cranks in the oxbows have been in Millwood Magic, Ghost Minnow, Tennessee Shad or Green Gizzard Shad. By increasing your size of Rat-L-Trap to a ¾-ounce, it can be fished much slower and deeper. This technique will draw a few random hits during midday on primary points with stumps present, from creek channels and across points converging with Little River. Best colors of Traps over the past week or so have been Millwood Magic, Tennessee Shad, Ghost Minnow or Olive Shad. In addition, a chrome/blue or Millwood Magic ⅜-ounce Spin Trap will also draw a few reactions from schooling Bass in the River.

White bass continue schooling along Little River (with the largemouths) at midday, and are still hitting vertical jigged half-ounce to 1-ounce Slab Spoons in Little River between Jack’s Isle and first entrance into Mud Lake, and also in Hurricane Creek from 10-15 feet deep. Little River has improved clarity and the bite over the past couple of weeks and the reduced current has clarity much improved on primary or secondary points. White bass are roaming all along Little River, and roaming in and out of creek dumps, too. With the drawdown in effect, many whites are found in close proximity to the spotted and largemouth bass, all feeding on threadfin shad.

* Crappie have been fair to good over the past few weeks, improving with reduced current in Little River and better water clarity in brush from 12-14 feet deep. Planted brushpiles at 12-14 feet deep continue holding some nice 1- to 2-pound slabs over the past few weeks. Red/White tube jigs and black/chartreuse hair jigs were catching some nice fish recently. Cordell smoke-colored grubs with a chartreuse tip tail on a light wire jighead will pick up a few extra bites.
* No reports on bream or catfish.

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 9-26-2024) 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 10-3-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said he’s been fishing lakes Ouachita and DeGray this week and “the crappie are already in a fall pattern and biting great. We are catching them 12-15 feet deep on brushpiles using live bait and jigs. Bass are doing really well, also. Ample limits are being caught from topwater baits early in the morning to Damiki rigs with live bait or soft plastic near bottom later in the mornings.
“It’s time to get on the water and enjoy the crisp, cool mornings. Be safe, everybody.”

(updated 9-26-2024) 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 10-3-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam is 59 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.

There have been a few 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 bass and white bass 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.

(updated 10-10-2024) Seth Boone, superintendent at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7474), reported Lake Dardanelle is starting to cool down in this fall weather. The fish have been biting better with the fronts that moved through. The black bass are biting decently on crankbaits. Crappie have tended to be better on the minnows than the jigs lately. Catfish are biting decently on stink bait. Bream are biting on crickets and worms at a fair rate.

Lake Hamilton
(updated 10-3-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) had no new report. He has been focusing on Lake Ouachita and DeGray Lake (see reports above and 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 10-10-2024) 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 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 10-10-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are fair and picking up. They are starting to school up in the mouths of major creek channels.

No reports on walleye, stripers or catfish this week. Bream are still fair and being caught on crickets in the 15-25 foot range. Crappie are biting over the tops of brush in the 20- to 30-foot range.

Water temperature is ranging 78-82 degrees and the clarity is clear. Lake level Thursday was 569.22 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

(updated 10-3-2024) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said he’s been fishing lakes Ouachita and DeGray this week and “the crappie are already in a fall pattern and biting great. We are catching them 12-15 feet deep on brushpiles using live bait and jigs. Bass are doing really well, also. Ample limits are being caught from topwater baits early in the morning to Damiki rigs with live bait or soft plastic near bottom later in the mornings.
“It’s time to get on the water and enjoy the crisp, cool mornings. Be safe, everybody.”

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.

White River/Arkansas River (Pool 2)
(updated 10-3-2024) 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.

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