Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report
BY Jim Harris
ON 01-23-2025
January 23, 2025
Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
Jeff Wallace of Mountain View hauled in this 27.5-inch brown trout on the White River near Calico Rock while fishing out of Jenkins Fishing and Motel recently.
During January and February, Fishing Reports will run every two weeks. In between reports, contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for the most up-to-date information.
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
Central Arkansas
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir (under renovation)
For the most up-to-date lake level, visit the U.S. Geological Survey’s Lake Conway water level site.
(updated 1-23-2025) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said customers have reported going to Toad Suck Dam for fishing and catching some bass and crappie lately. Also, customers stop in before and after fishing the Lake Conway Nursery Pond, with bream and trout being reported among catches of late. The 70-acre pond has been stocked by the AGFC with catchable bass, crappie, catfish and bream as well as rainbow trout.
Lake Conway is drawn down for an extensive renovation by the AGFC, the largest lake renovation project in the agency’s history.
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 1-23-2025) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said, “Brrr! It’s been one of the coldest weeks of the year here in Arkansas, with highs barely making it out of the 20s. The frigid temps have pushed up power demand, leading to consistent water releases from Greers Ferry Dam. From Monday through Thursday, the Southwestern Power Administration has been running two generators almost 24 hours a day, keeping the river moving. Looking ahead, we’re expecting a warm-up into the 50s by the weekend. With that, I anticipate the generation schedule will ease up, but it’s still too early to say for sure what SWPA will do. We’ll have to keep an eye on their updates.
“As of today (Thursday, Jan. 23), the water is falling out from the previous releases, and conditions are looking good. I’m heading out to fish today and expect solid action.
“Before the bitter cold set in on Monday, I had a productive day fishing out of Lobo Landing on Sunday. Targeting deeper water (4-6 feet), I focused on areas around moss beds. A San Juan Worm under an indicator worked well, while a double nymph rig with an egg fly on top and a midge dropper below also did the trick. Both setups were producing fish.
“With the weather warming up, it’s a great time to get back out there — just be sure to dress in layers and stay safe! Tight lines, and see you on the water. For guided trips, reach out at the phone number listed above, or visit the website linked above.”
(updated 1-23-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said Thursday that anglers are catching both rainbow and brown trout “pretty good right now,” they report. A black Marabou jig or a brown/orange Marabou jig are working very well. Also, try a Carolina rig with PowerBait; yellow and orange are the best colors of bait. A Little Cleo spoon in eighth-ounce size is a good choice as well, along with a No. 5 or No. 3 Rapala Countdown in Fire Tiger, a great color for wintertime.
The Southwestern Power Administration is running “a little bit of water now” at the dam, late in the afternoons usually.
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 1-23-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the fishing has been pretty good for bass and crappie. There are three main approaches for the good bass bite: throw an Alabama rig, a jerkbait and a jig. Anglers are having best success on main lake points or creek channel swings, or the transitions from those channel swings to a flat area or point, in roughly 15-25 feet of water.
For crappie, best success is going to be with a small swimbait or spider-rigging using minnows or a little pink/chartreuse jig or blue/white crappie jig. The crappie bite is being found more in the river tributaries to the lake: the South Fork, the Middle Fork and Devil’s Fork, in the middle channel of those rivers fishing around standing timber.
Water clarity in the rivers will be mostly stained, with the water on the lower end of Greers Ferry Lake clearing up some as you get closer to the dam. The water level at Greers is about a foot below normal pool. “Just a little bit of rain is all it takes to bring it up,” they say. Greers’ level has probably risen around 5 feet since the snow of early January.
(updated 1-23-2025) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 461.08 feet msl; that’s 0.96 feet below normal pool of 462.04 for this time of year. It has come up over 5 feet since the last report and now the Southwestern Power Administration is back generating off and on.
WARNING SOME PARTS OF LAKE IS ICED OVER! WATCH FOR SLICK SPOTS!
Most species have been on the move with the water rising. For crappie, try super shallow and out to 30 feet and use jigs, minnows or crankbaits. Fishing them straight up and down in pole timber or brush piles is working great. Walleye are eating in the main lake off and on and starting their pre-staging or staging and scattered throughout the lake, bridge pilings and mouths of rivers. On any corner facing upstream, drag a minnow or crankbait in 45-65 feet. Some walleye will follow under big schools of whites and hybrids; use spoons for those. And a lot just roaming around — a spoon is best for vertical fishing them at 10-50 feet.
For hybrid bass and white bass are set up in the main lake, use spoons, inline spinners, grubs and swimbaits in 25-60 feet. They want to settle in about 43 feet, which is magic water depth they are comfortable in here for several months out of the year with the right temperature and oxygen. Catfish are biting all over the lake and rivers on the usual. Try staying around schools of shad. Some bream are shallow but most are around 8-30 feet; crickets and crawlers work fine as well as inline spinners. Black bass can be found shallow swimming alone, but most are out schooling. Use a Carolina rig, Wiggle Wart and any flat-sided crankbait, drop-shots and spinnerbaits for the best action — and the Rat-L-Trap, of course — super shallow out to 60 feet.
Harris Brake Lake
(updated 1-9-2025) Bing Watkins at Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says fishing was pretty good for the past couple of weeks, but not this week. “Too cold,” she says. However, crappie fishing was going well after Christmas and the first week of 2025. Several crappie were approaching 2 pounds and 15 inches in length. These crappie were being caught from boats; though crappie can also be caught around the bank, you’re not going to catch the bigger ones there now, there is too much shad around the shoreline. Get a boat and use minnows.
Also, crappie jigs in white/chartreuse and the 2-inch Baby Shad in crystal color have been working very well.
Anglers also caught some good numbers of white bass in the last couple of weeks, and they were also pretty good-sized fish. “Some were up to 3 pounds or more,” Bing reports. Best fishing for white bass was around the northwest corner of the lake around stumps.
“Still lots of pelicans,” she says. “Water is back up a little bit from where it had been, about 8 inches below normal.”
Follow more from Harris Brake Lake Resort on its Facebook page.
Lake Maumelle
(updated 1-23-2025) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reports that the water temperature is in the low 40s and the water level is 8.7 feet low and dropping to 10 feet because of Central Arkansas Water’s repairs planned for the dam.
Largemouth bass have been biting well. They can be found shallow 2-5 feet with others being found deeper and scattered around brush anywhere from 10-20 feet. Try points and drop offs. Try using topwater, spinnerbaits, jigs, jerkbait, Chatterbait and crankbaits. Spotted bass also are good. There have been reports of them being found scattered on drop-offs at 10-20 feet and biting on jerkbaits and jigs.
The WestRock Landing Winter Series Tournament was held last Saturday, just before the major cold wave, and Daniel and Larry Romine caught five bass totaling 17.73 pounds, including a Big Bass of 5.05 pounds. Cody and Jerry Bryant were second with a 13.6-pound stringer.
Crappie are good, with crappie being found in 20-30 feet in the channel. Jigs are your best bet.
No reports on white bass, bream or catfish. White bass might be picked up with Twister Tails or crankbaits; catfish typically favor bream, liver or worms; and bream might bite a redworm.
(update 1-9-2025) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) had no new reports, but by late in 2024 was reporting that crappie could be found in 25-30 feet of water on brush and were roaming. Jigs and minnows were 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 1-9-2025) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said anglers have been out even in the sub-freezing weather this week catching crappie. They have been doing really well catching them in 10 feet depth on minnows.
“The shad are so thick in the creek that you could walk on them right now,” Ray said.
Black bass are also doing really well but they are deep, and deep-diving crankbaits are best.
Ray has heard nothing on bream or catfish. “Only diehard fishermen are fishing this time of year in this weather, and they’re mostly crappie fishermen,” he said.
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 1-23-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said that they haven’t spoken with many people fishing lately as it’s been so cold. But if you’re looking to get in some crappie fishing as we head into the weekend with temperature on the rise, anglers are catching them in about 15-20 feet of water behind jetties or on an oxbow off the river. The best approach is to throw a black/chartreuse crappie jig or by spider-rigging with minnows.
The water clarity is stained to muddy for the most part.
Peckerwood Lake
(updated 1-23-2025) The lake will reopen for fishing on Feb. 10, the Monday following the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt weekend. Peckerwood Lake serves as a waterfowl rest area from November to February.
North Arkansas
White River
(updated 1-23-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “The trout are biting. The snow and cold has made it tough on the fisherman but the trout don’t seem to mind. Those fishermen who went out during the coldest days had great success with both rainbow trout and brown trout. Artificial lures have worked really well in all river conditions with the best fish caught on Rapala Countdowns (CD5 or CD7) in rainbow trout colors or black and silver colors. Others report success throwing Thompson Colorado quarter-ounce spoons in nickel/gold and red/copper. For those who prefer drift-fishing, a silver inline spinner with Uncommon Baits Neo Pink UV eggs tipped with shrimp worked well for catching a limit of rainbows.
(updated 1-9-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “We’re looking to the new year and seeing lots of opportunities for trout anglers, young and old. Increased releases from Bull Shoals Dam are in progress to help us power through this frigid cold snap — 10,000 to 19,000 cfs (three to six units) pretty much around the clock. By the weekend we should return to more manageable levels as the daytime temperatures hit the mid-40s. Bull Shoals Lake is a foot below its normal power pool at 658.03 feet msl.
“We’ve seen some significant weather fluctuations and have turned to a mashup of shrimp and corn for a consistent rainbow bite. The browns have responded well to sculpin and river minnows, especially redfin minnows if you can find them. Tie on fluorescent or translucent orange egg patterns during the spawn season for a sure catch.
“Anglers have the opportunity during the high-water times to cast those big stick baits. Get out your No. 7, No. 9, even No. 11 Rapala Countdowns, gold and black or the rainbow pattern, and the 3-inch and 4-inch Smithwicks. Blue back, orange bellied Smithwicks first. This month has started with frigid nights and chilly days — and steady catches of rainbows with a brown or two (or more) brought in for pictures and a thrill. River traffic is slow in January and you may not see another angler for hours.
“Hope to see you in 2025. Pick a not-too-cold winter day to come over to the White; the coffee’s on and the trout are biting.”
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 1-23-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302) said the lake level is at 657 feet msl and the water temperature is about 46 degrees. “It’s been cold but there are some awesome days here in the winter,” he said. “Looks like some warmer weather coming soon! Fishing has been good especially before the fronts.
“Shallow guys, there are plenty of fish on the bank. If there’s wind and clouds, I’m covering water where the wind hits square on the bank. Check out sides of points, chunk rock, steep banks or ledge rock. Stay close to deeper water. A SPRO Crawler, Wiggle Wart, Red Craw or green variations. You’ll have keep moving to find them, but when you do there’s usually a few close.
“There are always fish to be caught on a jig. If it’s sunny, fish points with a little wind, or brush or ledges, but you’re looking anywhere from 20-40 feet, and shallower if we get clouds.
“The winter patterns are working offshore — video gaming. Shad are still spread thin and moving out with the colder water. Target bigger bait balls and shad becomes the structure. In creek hollers, check in that 70-90 feet depth range; every day is different, every creek will be a little different. Loons and graph time pay off this time of year. Try a DC Tater Shad or jerkbait or Flutter Spoon around those high-swimming shad or dying shad balls, or early or late in the day when the shad are up in the water column. If they are being finicky, hang a Tater Shad over the side. For schooling fish, use a Jewel Scope Spin or Jigging Rap. Try a Jewel Scuba Spoon for those bottom dwellers. Lots of different species are showing up out there in the middle. Each day is different so ‘Fish the conditions’.”
Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Fishing Report) for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake.
(updated 1-23-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) says the walleye are still holding in 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 going to be a good place to start looking, and 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 now are going to be fishing deep in 60-80 feet of water using three-quarter-ounce or 1-ounce spoons or Ice Jigs. Throwing a jerkbait on windblown points in 8-15 feet of water also has been producing a few good fish. Search out points with deep water close by.
It’s that time of year to start thinking about getting on the books for the upcoming season. Bookings tend to start filling up fast after the first of the year. Reach out at the link above.
(updated 1-23-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are scattered in the creek brushpiles all the way out to the main lake. Look for structure anywhere from 15-30 feet. The one-eighth-ounce Tater Baits Small Fry have been working well, along with minnows.
Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
No reports.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Beaver Lake Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 1-23-2025) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake level is at 1,119.69 feet msl. The lake was up to 1,120.90 feet msl but has slowly come down. This level is around 2 feet below normal level. Water temps vary from end to end. “The south end was frozen over from Pinhook on up to the Highway 45 bridge. It broke up before this latest brutal cold, but I am sure it refroze. When I fished it, I had to break through to fish anywhere south of Blue Springs.
“Stripers have been good if you can locate them. Fish were caught around the islands at Prairie Creek and down by the Horseshoe area. I would assume there may be a shad kill but have not heard any reports yet. When that happens, sometimes it slows the bite as the fish gorge on the dying shad.
“Crappie were good before this last arctic blast. Look on brush in 15-30 feet. Water temps the other day were 38, so slow your presentation down. Fish will school into very large schools. So, when you locate them, you will do well.
“White bass were caught on my boat last week around Beavo-Rama. This is an area that is a pre-pawn area that usually holds whites and walleyes during late January into February. Walleye will start to show up soon in the top ends of the White and War Eagle river arms.
“It’s cold but some warmer air is coming, so dress right and get on some fish.”
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.
Beaver Tailwater
(updated 1-23-2025) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said, “Well, we were able to get out a couple times before this next batch of cold weather came in. One thing that does not disappoint is catching trout on the White River. Orange Fire Eggs along with garlic peach Fire Bait are reliable baits to provide a lot of action and help you catch some rainbows. The slightly warmer daytime temperatures for the next week mean a good time to pick up your rod and reel and get outside. When you see a rise in the water, reach for some Fire Worms. The browns have given some attention to minnows, along with some jerkbaits.
“Rule of thumb: Gold spinners and spoons will work best when the sky is clear and sunny; change to silver-colored baits when fishing under overcast skies.
“Pretty soon, the walleye will be pushing up for the spawn. We will start looking for them pretty soon, hopefully reporting some good news in the next couple weeks. Remember to follow my Facebook page Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service for weekly updates.”
Lake Fayetteville
(updated 1-23-2025) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) has reopened after the winter break but had no reports.
Northeast Arkansas
Lake Charles
(updated 1-23-2025) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) had no new reports.
Lake Poinsett
(updated 1-23-2025) Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park said, “Despite the cold, Lake Poinsett’s fishing has been anything but frozen. Numerous anglers are out catching crappie and bream mostly. A few that have stopped by the State Park’s Visitor Center have mentioned that with the colder temps and added fishing pressure, the crappie are moving to the deeper waters near the dam according to their LiveScopes. They mentioned the crappie were hitting on minnows and a variety of jigs still.
“Reports for the other main sport fish in the lake have been few, but there are still bream and bass being caught; no real mention of catfish, though. We see a lot of boats drive by the Visitor Center and hear a lot are putting in at the AGFC boat ramp at the dam. The limit on crappie is 15 fish (all sizes encouraged to be harvested to help prevent stunting) and for black bass you can keep 10 fish with one being larger than 16 inches.
“So, if the cold doesn’t bother you, come out to Lake Poinsett to test your luck and skill! As always, the State Park Visitor Center sells live bait (currently nightcrawlers, redworms and minnows) and is open with winter hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 1-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.”
Spring River
(updated 1-9-2025) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are at 480 cfs, 350 avg. And water clarity has been green stained. There has been a lot of rain lately keeping river levels up above normal. Watch for heavy rains that may cause flooding. The catching has been great for trout with big Woollies working well most days. Go with big eggs with nymph droppers on the tough days. A sink tip line can help get the fly down. A long leader with high sticking techniques works great, too. If using an indicator look for the slower seams.
The smallmouth are there, but can be tough to get to bite with the water up. Better chance banging the banks for browns. Make them mad.
“Wading is tough out there. With the frigid temps when getting wet, find a warm area quickly! A wading staff is very helpful. Just be safe, it’s never too cold for the trout.
“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.
Southeast Arkansas
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 1-23-2025) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no new reports.
Cane Creek Lake
NOTE: The AGFC will close access to Cane Creek Lake Feb. 10-12 for nutria control. For additional information, call the AGFC Fisheries Division’s Monticello office at 833-363-7638.
(updated 1-23-2025) Shelley Burr at Cane Creek State Park (870-628-4714) had no reports from this week, but in the most recent report said that anglers were targeting crappie with minnows in several areas of the lake.
Lake Monticello
(updated 1-23-2025) 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.
Southwest Arkansas
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 1-23-2025) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said Wednesday that the boat ramp was frozen that morning and he wasn’t putting his boat, trailer and truck in danger. He’ll be back on the lake when the weather improves.
Army Corps of Engineers’ current release at Millwood Dam was about 12,000 cfs as of Thursday midday, and lake elevation was holding steady at 260.02 feet msl.
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.
South-Central Arkansas
White Oak Lake Area
No reports.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Catherine Tailwater (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro
(updated 1-23-2025) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam has fallen to 44 degrees due to the below-freezing temperatures of the last week. Entergy has been running round-the-clock generation because of the demand for power to combat the frigid weather conditions. Both lakes Catherine and Hamilton have been lowered 3 feet for the winter drawdown and will remain in place until early March, when the refill is scheduled. Stained conditions exist in the tailrace due to the heavy snowfall runoff, but the area continues to clear daily. Very little fishing or boating has taken place near the dam with the dangerous cold in place.
The AGFC stocked quality rainbow trout in Lake Catherine in November and December and these fish are thriving in the cold temperatures. January will be a big month for trout stocking with 9,700 fish scheduled to be released. As soon as the tailrace clears and the runoff is passed through the system, very good opportunities will present themselves for catching good numbers of trout. Bank fishermen can use PowerBait in yellow or white fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater and expect consistent action in the main channel. Waxworms or mealworms will also work well presented in the same manner. Spin-fishermen should concentrate on areas of current where rocks and sandbars are present and cast Rooster Tails in silver or brown. Trout often hide in the areas to stay out of the main current and to ambush prey. Fly-fishermen can wade to these same areas and cast micro-jigs in black and white under a strike indicator. San Juan Worms in pink offer another quality lure to tempt finicky trout.
Thousands of threadfin shad have been swept into the Carpenter Dam tailrace from Lake Hamilton this month. The freezing temperatures stun these baitfish, which are then drawn through the turbines during generation and float over the shallow water to be preyed upon by area game fish. This is one reason that the trout make such wonderful table fare due to the superior diet created by this process repeated over and over during the winter months.
Anyone visiting Carpenter Dam park is advised to follow all park rules and regulations and always obey the law enforcement officers constantly monitoring the area. Wearing a lifejacket is a must when navigating the tailrace and could save your life in an accident.
Lake Dardanelle
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ outflow and gauge level reports from Dardanelle, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 1-23-2025) Seth Boone, superintendent at Lake Dardanelle State Park (479-890-7474), said Lake Dardanelle has been frigid lately. Fish have been slow to bite but the bream are biting on live bait such as worms. Bass have been difficult but crankbaits and spinnerbaits off rock points have been successful. Catfish have been more active toward the evening hours on stink bait in deeper waters. Crappie fishermen have had success from minnows at tributary confluence points.
Lake Hamilton
(updated 1-9-2025) 2024 ended the way it began on Lake Hamilton, with a double-digit bass being caught at the lake. Lin Burnett hoisted an 11.14-pound black bass on Dec. 16. The fish measured 25.5 inches long. He said a fin clip was retained from the bass for genetic study by the AGFC. The year began with a couple of double-digit catches as well.
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 1-23-2025) 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 1-23-2025) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) had no new report for this week, but in the most recent report before the cold front hit he said black bass were good. These fish were schooling up in the mouths of major creek channels. Try a CC Spoon in 20-40 feet of water. Stripers were good and biting on live bait in the central and western parts of the lake. Crappie were good and biting over the tops of brush in the 20- to 30-foot range. There have been no recent reports on walleye, bream or catfish.
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.
East Arkansas
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 1-23-2025) The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) says the lake will reopen on the spring when the water level allows. Currently the lake servers as a waterfowl rest area for migrating birds.
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.
Note: msl is mean sea level; cfs is cubic feet per second.
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