Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

December 19, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Leif Mitchell (left, shown with his friend Adison) caught a 27-inch brown trout fishing the Little Red River on Dec. 6. Though no weight was recorded, Leif said bystanders estimated the fish in the 8-pound range (“I was thinking close to 7, but she was a massive brown,” he said).

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.

NOTE: During December to the middle of February, Fishing Reports will run periodically. The next fishing report following this one will run on Dec. 19. Our reporters will take a break from their duties during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Day. Call the numbers listed for any updates between reports.

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 are implementing their every-five-year winter drawdown of Beaverfork. 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 refill the lake beginning 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 12-19-2024) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) has no new reports from Lake Conway, which has been drawn down to just a few small pools of water around much of the lake. 

Lakes Overcup and Atkins are where anglers are headed for crappie fishing these days, they report. Minnows and jigs are what they are using. Everything in the immediate area has slowed down in terms of fishing, they add.

Anglers were reported catching about every species of fish by going to the AGFC-stocked Lake Conway Nursery Pond, which is a near-70-acre pond stocked by the AGFC with bass, crappie, bream and catfish.

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 12-19-2024) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said fishing on the Little Red River has been a mixed bag lately, thanks to an unpredictable generation schedule. The Southwestern Power Administration has been inconsistent, with projected releases not always matching the actual water flow. “Before heading out, I highly recommend checking the USACE Little Rock App for up-to-date information on dam releases.”
This weekend is bringing colder temperatures, which could lead to water releases to meet power demand. Heavy rains earlier this week, combined with limited water flow, have left the river off-color from the Swinging Bridge area down to the 305 bridge. There was a scheduled release on Dec. 18, and if the cold weather holds, we might finally see improved water clarity and flow.
For now, the low flows have created excellent wade fishing opportunities across various sections of the river. With the brown trout spawn in full swing, fish are active on the shoals. Be mindful of where you’re stepping, as the cleaned-out gravel areas (called “redds”) are where the fish are spawning. Avoid walking through these spots to help protect the next generation of trout.
The best fishing has been after periods of generation or during falling water. Focus your efforts on the shoals and deep plunge pools just downstream. On days when the river is at its lowest, target deeper water sections with moss beds, as these areas are holding fish.
The top flies recently have been egg patterns, San Juan Worms and various midges. Adjust your tactics based on flow and clarity, and you should find success.
“Tight lines and stay safe out there! For guided trips or more information, feel free to reach out.”

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 12-19-2024) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 455.21; that’s 6.81 feet below normal pool of 462.04 feet msl. The lake has come up about 1 foot the last few days with the rain, and there is not a lot of generation going on. Most species are getting settled more on structure now.
For crappie, try super shallow and out to 30 feet using jigs, minnows or crankbaits. Fishing straight up and down in pole timber or brushpiles is working great. Walleye are eating in the main lake off and on and starting to pre-stage and staging, scattered throughout the lake. Fish around bridge pilings and in mouths of rivers on any corner facing upstream by dragging a minnow or crankbait in 45-65 feet. Some continue following under big schools of white bass and hybrids; use spoons for those. Also, a lot just roaming around, and a spoon is best for that vertical fishing targeting 10-50 feet depth.
Hybrid and white bass are set up in the main lake and some are roaming, schooling on top. For the ones that are set, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. They are wanting to get settled in about 43 feet, which is magic water depth they are comfortable in here many months out of the year because it has the right temp and oxygen.
Catfish continue biting on the usual stuff all over the lake and in the rivers; try staying around schools of shad. Some bream can be found shallow, but most are still around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers are working fine as well as inline spinners. Black bass are found in singles shallow, but most groups are out in the lake roaming shallow and schooling. Carolina rigs, Wiggle Warts and any flat-sided crankbait, drop-shots and spinnerbaits will provide the best action, and the Rat-L-Trap, of course — super super shallow out to 60 feet. Be safe and wear your life jacket, and Merry, Merry Christmas to all!

(updated 12-19-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that the smallmouth bass are doing really well in 15-20 feet of water. Anglers are having best success with a peanut butter and jelly jig in a half-ounce or three-quarter-ounce size. The largemouths and spotted bass are doing well off main lake points. Try an Alabama rig using an eighth-ounce jighead with a 2.8-inch or 3.3-inch swimbait.

Crappie on the lake are doing pretty good as well. They are being caught in 20-25 feet of water, and an eighth-ounce jighead (try silver or pink) with a black and chartreuse body is your best ticket to success.

Harris Brake Lake
(updated 12-19-2024) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says that the crappie have been doing well lately and anglers have caught some big slabs — some 15-15.5 inches in length and up to 2 pounds — fishing from the shoreline. Other nice crappie have been hauled in by anglers using boats. Even though the water has dropped noticeably as water is being used to flood parts of Harris Brake WMA for waterfowl season, access by boat to the lake is fine, they report. Water around the shoreline is only about 2 feet in depth where the close-in crappie are biting.

Pelicans in good numbers have returned, they also report, and shad are moving in shallow.

Anglers are mostly using a pearl white or white/chartreuse color jig, but minnows also are being cast. Crappie are also being caught in good numbers on the other side of the lake from the resort, they hear.
White bass have been caught on Rooster Tails. The best time for the crappie and white bass bite has been from about 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Follow more from Harris Brake Lake Resort on their Facebook page.

Lake Maumelle
(updated 12-19-2024) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reported that water temperature is in the low 50s and the water level is 7.68 feet below normal pool as Central Arkansas Water draws the lake down to 8 feet below normal level to help eliminate water hyacinth.

The largemouth bass bite is good. Some can be found shallow in 2-5 feet or water, while a few reports this week had bass being found in the back of the creeks. Others are being found deeper and scattered around brush anywhere from 10-20 feet. Try points and drop-offs. Try using topwater baits, spinnerbaits, jigs, jerkbait, Chatterbait and crankbaits. Spotted bass also are good. There are reports of them being found scattered on drop-offs in 10-20 feet depth. Use jerkbaits or jigs. Crappie are good, with reports of crappie being found between 20-30 feet depth. Jigs are working.

No reports on white bass, bream or catfish. White bass should like twister tails and crankbaits, though; while worms can get a bream to bite. Bream, liver and worms are favorites for catfish at this time of year.

(update 12-19-2024) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) said water temps are in the mid-50s. The lake is approximately 7 feet below the winter pool but still accessible via WestRock Landing. Crappie can be found in 25-30 feet of water on brush and are roaming. Jigs and minnows are working great when they’re not stuffed to the gills. As always, presentation is key! This is the absolute best time of the year to catch a mess of super-healthy slabs! “Give me a shout today at 501-548-8990 to get in on the action!”

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 12-19-2024) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is clear as a bell, the river is perfect for fishing, and the fishing overall is very good. Crappie are doing better than the bass, he said, and the bass are still doing real well. Crappie are in about 10 feet depth are biting on minnows and jigs. Black bass will jump on a crankbait, and they’re being caught in 4-5 feet depth.

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 12-19-2024) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) says the black bass have moved up a little bit more shallow of late. You’ll find them biting at the ends of jetties in 5-8 feet of water. Try a spinnerbait or jig. Also, with any live grass you can find, throw a weightless Senko or a spinnerbait in there in about 3-5 feet of water. The best colors of spinnerbaits now seem to be a white with gold blade or a white/chartreuse with a red blade.

Crappie on the river are doing pretty good, they report. They’re in 10-12 feet of water on brushpiles or off the ends of jetties. Best success, they’re hearing, is by throwing a one-sixteenth-ounce jighead (unpainted or pink) with a black and chartreuse jig.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 12-19-2024) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said the lake has closed for the season to serve as a waterfowl rest area for duck season, which opens Nov. 23. The lake will reopen for fishing on Feb. 10, the Monday following the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt weekend.

White River
(updated 12-19-2024) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said “December here in Arkansas Ozark country continues to be very mild with Christmas just a little under a week away. Releases from Bull Shoals Dam have slowed to one unit (3,000 cfs) with an occasional burst for an hour or two in the late morning and sometimes late in the afternoon. The lake is rising slowly from the recent rains: 659.42 feet mls as we write.
“Kids will be looking for Christmas surprises, and there is none better than gifting them with an opportunity to catch trout on the White River.
“Mild daytime temperatures for the next week mean a good time to pick up your rod and reel and get outside, but bundle up for early morning outings. Reach for the wiggly worms when you see a rise in the water. Any scented orange egg bait and shrimp are reliable baits to provide a lot of action and help them catch some rainbows. The browns have given some attention to sculpins and minnows, even in the middle of their annual spawn. Rule of thumb: Gold spinners and spoons will work best when the sky is clear and sunny; change to white or silver-colored baits when fishing under overcast skies.
“The Trout Capital USA, Cotter, Arkansas, is lit up for Christmas like never before. Visit Cotter after sunset and see how the city has decorated Big Spring Park and get the best view of the rainbow bridge lights. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year.”

(updated 12-5-2024) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We continue to see dirty water coming out of Norfork Dam, although it does seem to be less muddy. Guides are reporting some success fishing near the mouths of the creeks where there is some cleaner water. We are also seeing some success using white jigs. Hopefully by the next report we can say there is clean water and fishing has returned to normal.”

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 12-5-2024) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is 659 feet msl and water temperature is about 56 degrees, give or take. There are fish that moved up shallow. You can powerfish cranking a Rock Crawler or Wiggle Wart; that bite seems better with wind and clouds. Most of the creeks have a little color. Target steeper 45-degree banks or ledges. Cover water, stay in the wind. Shad eaters go about three-quarters of the way back in the creeks and way off the end of points leaving into pockets. The shad are starting to group better. Most are out over the old creek channel, while some are getting pushed onto the flats. There are shad sitting high on the surface down to 60 feet. Use a Jewel Scuba Spoon or Rapala Jigging Rap if the shad are on the bottom. Try a Tater Shad or small minnow bait on the suspended shad; that will fool a few. Loons are showing up. You had better be good at the front-looker — having to hit them on the move isn’t easy. Graph time will pay off. A Megabass Plus 1 jerkbait is working on those schooling fish. There are fish to be had on the main lake. 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 12-19-2024) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye fishing patterns have shifted into their wintertime positions. The fish are following the shad. Searching for baitfish and good water clarity will be key to locating them. Channel swings midway back in creeks are a good place to start looking, as well as long points with trees at the end of channel swings will also be a good place to find a few walleye. The best fishing methods right now are going to be fishing deep in 50-70 feet of water using three-quarter-ounce or 1-ounce spoons or Ice jigs. 

(updated 12-19-2024) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says they are finding crappie from brushpiles to main lake standing timber. “There are not many on main lake timber, but we’re finding a few. Brushpiles are still hit and miss and have been catching a few on a 1/16-ounce or ⅛-ounce jig paired with Tater Baits Small Fry Purple Monkey and minnows on the days the jig bites are slow.”

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 12-19-2024) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake was sitting steady at 1,117.30 feet msl, 4 ft below normal pool. Water temperature was dropping and now is in the 40s.

The lake is cleaning up slowly. The upper river arms are a good stain right now. Dirty water still remains from Hickory traveling north to Monte Ne, but is not all that bad. 

Stripers are starting to show. The striper bite is on one day and off another. Fish are showing from Prairie Creek up to Camp War Eagle and up to Neil’s Bluff.

“My advice as always is trust your electronics! Move if it doesn’t look good. If you trust what you see and you see nothing … well, move. Keep looking and as I tell clients, look for the pieces of the puzzle. Do you see bait? Do you see bait that is being harassed by game fish? And if you do, well, then you found your spot! 

“If you see nice, pretty, round bait balls, that’s fine and good. What you are looking for on your electronics are bait balls that are misshapen and irregular. Bait balls that look like an “L” or a “C”. Or the classic donut hole. Those are baits that are being attacked and fed upon.”
Crappie are really loading up on brush and mud flats. Look in 15-25 feet of water. Jigs and minnows will work. Black bass will be caught on football jigs. Look along chunk banks.
“It’s cold but always good to be outside. This is a good time to fish! Good luck!”
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 12-19-2024) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said recent days have started with cool mornings and then warmed up to comfortable days. “We have seen varied generations from Beaver Dam. The river level is staying pretty consistent this week.”

Spoons continue to be the go-to lure in the shallow water. Additionally, black jigs, Rooster Tails, lures with a spinner and Rapala Countdowns have worked very well. Fire Eggs with shrimp Fire Gel or worms continue to work well in 3-10 feet of water.
With the mild weather this week, that should turn on the bite in the tailwater. Using light terminal tackle, fish the eggs on bottom and, if able, drift the worms.
“Most of our fish have been caught near Houseman Access this week.
“If you’re still searching for the walleye, Beaver town is the place to be, even up to Holiday Island. Using many methods, the best has been jigging soft plastics and live minnows. Look for these fish in 10-15 feet of water.
“Like always, for additional information, please follow my Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) for day-to-day updates. Stay warm, and catch some fish!”

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 12-19-2024) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) says crappie were good this week. Higher numbers were caught, but they were smaller in size than what had been brought in earlier in the fall. The black bass are doing about the same, which is to say ‘OK.” Soft plastic worms and bigger jigs are what the anglers have been using. Nothing was heard on catfish this week.

The Boat Dock will be closed for winter break beginning Monday, Dec. 23, and will reopen on Jan. 14.

Lake Charles
(updated 12-19-2024) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said on Dec. 10 that the lake had dropped a foot, being drawn down for water to use on the Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA for waterfowl season. Clarity is the usual murky.

Bream are fair on worms. There were no reports on crappie. Black bass are fair on topwater lures and jerkbaits. Catfishing is good using worms and hot dogs.

Shelly says the best fishing days based on “moon times” this month come after Christmas, from Dec. 27-Jan. 2. 

Lake Poinsett
(updated 12-19-2024) Ben Batten, AGFC deputy director, reported recently on the Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, that he and two other AGFC staff fished Poinsett earlier in the fall and caught 100 black crappie on one trip. He said about 85-90 were over 10 inches and would have been “keepers.” Currently black bass and crappie are catch-and-release only, but effective Jan. 1 there will be harvest limits applied to those fish as well as the current harvest limits on bream and catfish.

Spring River
(updated 12-19-2024) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are running over 450 cfs and water clarity has been poor. Thunderstorms over the last week have the warm fork above the Spring River murky from the heavy rain. With the river being spring-fed, it will recover quickly and look great by the weekend. We’re catching big rainbows this time of year — the cold temps are getting the big fish moving. With the water above normal, big Woollies have been working great in olive, black and white. On the tough days and on most days a big ol’ Y2K can be the ticket. 

“Catching really nice smallmouth bass during the cold months on the Spring River. The water temp at the Spring is a warm 58 degrees. Warmer temps in the headwaters move the bass upstream. Sparkle minnows and sculpin patterns work great. Fish it slow and deep.
“Brown trout are there. To catch one, fish for them with streamers at the banks with a fast or slow strip, depending on conditions. Personal fave is a fly for browns and smallmouth on the Spring River is an olive Woolly Bugger. It works.
“If you’re looking for a walleye, find the coldest, nastiest day and cast Trout Cranks in rainbow trout and brown trout patterns or rattling rogues. There are huge walleye in the Spring River. Gotta fish for them to catch them. Very hard to catch on the fly. Only have landed a few.
“It is cold out, so be safe wading! Dress in layers and stay warm. If you slip and fall, find a warm, dry place quickly. With water levels above average, be safe out there.
“As always check springriverfliesandguides.com for the latest river conditions.”

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 12-19-2024) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reports that water temperature is around 50. Visibility near zero in runoff zones up to about 12 inches in protected areas. The black bass bite is declining, but they can still be caught. Wind-blown steeper banks with depth and shad are more consistent than others. Spinnerbaits and bladed jigs worked slowly along banks/near cover can get a few bites. Jerkbaits near steeper banks and cover are producing some as well. Dark-colored jigs, as always, continue to get bites just using trailers with less action. There is still a little time to get bites on the river, but once it gets into the mid-40s it would be best to look elsewhere for black bass; it gets very tough until spring. 

Cane Creek Lake
(updated 12-19-2024) Melanie Fitzgibbon at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) said the biggest action recently was one angler buying a quarter-pound of minnows “to try his theory of fishing in the rain for crappie by boat” last Saturday.
Most of the best fishing the past month has been for crappie out on the lake via boat, though the interior dock has been a fair spot for catfish.

Lake Monticello
(updated 12-19-2024) 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 12-19-2024) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said there have been a few changes over the past couple of weeks. Millwood Lake is back on a slow rise from recent rainfall in southwest Arkansas, and lake elevation is a foot above normal conservation pool with discharge at Millwood Dam about 9,900 cfs. Little River pool below Millwood Dam is currently at 236 feet msl and rising.
The biggest change, he said, the past couple weeks has been clarity reduction due to recent rainfall, increased discharge at the dam and water temperature falling. With recent increased current in Little River, the surface clarity has reduced visibility from last week. Check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on guide service’s website linked above, or at the US Army Corps of Engineers website also linked above, for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels. Watch for random floaters and broken timber during any navigation on Little River and Millwood Lake with discharge rates and fluctuations in the conditions at Little River, and anytime high gate discharge conditions exist. Lake elevation and discharge at Millwood Dam can change dramatically in mere hours with thunderstorms and fresh water influx.

Surface temperature continues fluctuating, ranging 50 degrees early to 55 degrees later in the day along Little River. Clarity along Little River for the past week diminished from increased discharge at the dam. Moderate to heavy stain is found in most locations, with some areas further up Little River being heaviest; river clarity was ranging 5-8 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility of oxbows will vary widely from heavy stained to fair visibility from 10-15 inches, and we observed around fair visibility in a few wind and current protected areas like McGuire Oxbow up to 18 inches clarity, away from river current. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, gate discharge, rain or thunderstorms.
Mike also noted several changes among species while fishing Millwood the past week.
* Largemouth bass were following threadfin shad in random locations for several weeks and have recently moved into the creeks following the shad. The surface-feeding and breaking on shad in the oxbows and along Little River is diminished with the muddy inflow and increased river current. The oxbows have much better water clarity, as far from river current as you can find, and shad have begun moving into the backs of creeks over the past couple weeks. The biggest changes over the past few weeks continue to be the cooler weather one week with highs in the 50s, and warm weather the next with highs in the 70s, though maybe that is over for a while.
Continue watching for egrets, cranes and herons standing on stumps and broken timber. Those birds are watching the shad. Bass are following the shad into the creek channels in the oxbows and along Little River. The mouths of creeks dumping into Little River are still holding schools of largemouth, spotted and white bass 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. For the past few weeks, bass have moved into the creek channels following the shad seeking warmer water temps. With these sudden cold fronts one day and surface water temperatures heating up the next, and the changing surface water densities, we are seeing bass following the shad to backs of the creeks where the water temps are much warmer, and they have been staging in the creek mouths and into the creeks channels over the past couple weeks.

The best reaction baits for the schooling bass, when they were feeding in a frenzy, have been seen using Rat-L-Trap Hammer Traps in Millwood Magic or Chrome Blue, chrome/black, Tail Spinner Rat-L-Traps, Kastmaster Spoons, and Bandit 200/300 Crankbaits in Splatterback and shad colors. The Bomber Fat Free Guppy and Fingerling crankbaits will draw random reactions across points, with best colors being Tennessee Shad, Khaki Shad and Louisiana Shad.

The best color of cranks in the oxbows — like the Bill Lewis Echo 1.75 square bills or the SB-57 and MR-6 — for the past couple weeks or so have been the Millwood Magic, Ghost Minnow, Tennessee Shad or Green Gizzard Shad. By increasing the size of a Rat-L-Trap up to a three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Trap, one can fish it 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 one-quarter to three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Traps over the past week have been chrome/blue, chrome/black, White Smoke or Millwood Magic. A quarter-ounce to three-eighth-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap will also generate a lot of reaction bites from schooled-up bass following shad in the oxbows.

When the activity moves into chasing shad into the lily pads, a Johnson chrome or gold spoon with a white grub 3-inch curly tail trailer, and a Bass Assassin Shad in Grey Ghost, Salt & Pepper Phantom, Violet Moon and Rainbow Shad colors will snatch them in the heavy vegetation and lily pads near flats from 4-6 feet of depths near stumps. A small quarter-ounce Tail Spinner Spin Trap is much easier to finesse through the lily pads and not stay hung up with the tail spinner in place of the rear hook hanger.
* White bass continue following the same shad schools as the largemouths over the past couple of weeks. Surface-breaking has reduced over the past few weeks due to incoming fresh water, reduced surface temps and increased current along Little River. The whites were hitting vertical-jigged half-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 a few weeks ago. Little River has reduced surface clarity recently due to thunderstorms and rainfall. White bass are roaming all along the oxbows and Little River, and roaming in and out of creek dumps, too. Whites are found in close proximity to the spotted bass and largemouth bass, all feeding on threadfin shad. Keep a heavy, half-ounce to three-quarter-ounce hammered spoon with a white/red bucktail on deck at all times for vertical-jigging in the eddies behind primary and secondary points in the river!
Heavy three-quarter-ounce Cordell hammered spoons, Kastmaster chrome/blue spoons with white bucktails, or Bomber Fat Free Guppy or Fingerling crankbaits, the Bill Lewis MR-6 Crankbaits and half-ounce to three-quarter-ounce Rat-L-Traps in Citrus Shad, Tennessee Shad and Millwood Magic colors will draw random reactions from whites. Little George’s, Rocket Shads and red/white Rooster Tails were working last week.
All the creek channel intersections, primary points and many creek dumps into the oxbows, where primary or secondary points intersect, are holding decent schools of whites. Their activity levels continue improving, reacting to crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in the oxbows very well. They range in size from juveniles to adults and 1-3 pounds each.

* Crappie are fair but continue a slow improving trend. Increased current and muddy inflow from recent rains along Little River drastically clouded water clarity. Best activity in our planted brush is from 10-16 feet deep. The brushpiles continue holding some nice slabs over the past week and action and activity was improved this week. Minnows, hair jigs and blue/chartreuse tubes were catching some nice fish recently. 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.
* Fishermen we continue visiting with on Little River were having success with catfish using limblines with cut buffalo, chicken hearts and frozen catalpa worms along Little River under overhanging tree limbs from 8-12 feet of depth. They told us they were catching anywhere from 10-15 per day of high-fin blues and channel cats ranging from 5-8 pounds each.

Lake Greeson Tailwater
For the most updated Narrows Dam generation schedule from SWEPCO, click here.

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

No reports.

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

No reports. 

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 Atkins
(updated 12-19-2024) Bates Field and Stream at Mayflower (501-470-1846) reports that with Lake Conway being drawn down to just a few small pools of water around much of the lake now, a lot of their regular anglers and customers have been heading up I-40 to Lake Atkins for their crappie fishing. The fishing is reportedly good, with minnows and jigs both working.

Lake Catherine Tailwater (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro

(updated 12-19-2024) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature has risen to 50 degrees due to the warmer weather of the past week with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has been generating for 4 hours each day the last week with the schedule being posted each Wednesday on the Entergy/Hydro website (linked above). A 3-foot drawdown, instead of the usual 5 feet in recent years, is in place on both lakes Hamilton and Catherine with the annual refill scheduled to begin the first week in March. The fall rainbow trout season is now underway with 1,300 fish delivered to Lake Catherine in early November along with the December stocking recently delivered, making the location of feeding fish much more consistent. The initial, November stocking of trout is historically difficult to pattern as the trout tend to scatter in all directions in very small numbers. As January approaches, much larger numbers of trout will be stocked, which will create more consistent catches by bank and boat anglers alike. 

Quality trout are being caught now from the bridge to the dam by bank fishermen using redworms and nightcrawlers floated just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. PowerBaits in white, orange and yellow are also catching trout fished in the same manner. An important point to remember when targeting rainbow trout is that these fish are born egg eaters and will consistently prey on fish eggs whether natural or man-made.
Spin-fishermen are having some success casting Rooster Tails at the head and tail of shoal areas. White or brown colors in 1/16-ounce and ⅛-ounce weights work best cast across areas of current. These lures imitate small threadfin shad that live in the tailrace and are a main food source for all area game fish in the winter, spring and summer seasons. 

Fly-fishermen now have better access to areas that hold trout with the 3-foot drawdown in place and have caught trout casting Woolly Buggers in olive or black colors under a strike indicator. San Juan Worms in red or hot pink have also taken trout along with micro-jigs in black or gray. 

Targeting areas of current is key whether the generators are running or in periods of slackwater. Boaters need to use extreme caution when attempting to navigate near the dam. Underwater obstructions are numerous in the tailrace, with this number increasing the closer you get to the dam. Huge rocks lying just out of sight can do tremendous damage to boats and motors and threaten lives when the generators are running. 

Trout fishing will dominate the Carpenter Dam tailrace as the winter months take hold and offer anglers consistent fishing opportunities and some wonderful table fare for the holiday season. Always follow all park and lake regulations when visiting Carpenter Dam and remember to pick up after each outing as the number of trash cans are limited.

Lake Dardanelle
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ outflow and gauge level reports from Dardanelle, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 12-19-2024) Seth Boone, superintendent at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7474), had no new reports, but most recently he reported Lake Dardanelle was cooling down and the fish were 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 jigs. Catfish are biting decently on stink bait. Bream were biting on crickets and worms at a fair rate.

Lake Hamilton
No reports.

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 11-14-2024) Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025) had no new reports. 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 12-5-2024) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are still good. These fish are still schooling up in the mouths of major creek channels. Stripers are very good and biting on live bait in the central and western parts of the lake. Crappie are good and biting over the tops of brush in the 20- to 30-foot range. No reports on walleye, bream or catfish.
The lake temperature is ranging 52-58 degrees, about an 8-degree drop overall from this time last week, and the lake is clearing. Lake level on Wednesday was 572.12 feet msl, slightly down from last week. 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.