Hardy, Arkansas -- Warren Haggard (below) looks like he's having fun. He recently found a good time on the Spring River fishing with guide Mark Crawford for smallmouth, rock bass, sunfish and other species.

Rain seemingly has avoided the Spring River lately, Crawford notes, and the water level is well below average, but the water remains cold and fun to fish early before the heat of the day sets in.

Hopper droppers with nymphs, Y2Ks or worm droppers have "been a blast," he said, and a pure dry-fly setup can work early or late, depending on caddis and mayfly hatches. There is good streamer action with the low water conditions, especially for the smallmouth, rock bass or sun perch, he added.

The truth is, though, that unless the water has some chill to it to cool the surrounding air temperature, not a lot of anglers seem eager to be out at midday fishing around Arkansas, based on what we've been told this week (although Wednesday and Thursday were nice, less-humid days).

Most of our contributors who aren't on a tailwater or something like the Spring River note that it's an early-in-the-morning (sunrise to maybe 9 a.m.) and late-in-the-day (5-8 p.m.) game. Stay hydrated!