Fishing Tip: The holiday weekend is one of the greatest times to be on the water, but it is also one of the most dangerous. Be sure to carry a life jacket for every passenger on board your boat and make sure that your navigation lights and fire extinguisher work properly before heading out to watch the evening fireworks displays.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
21.85 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet)
25.28 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet)
12.06 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet)
35.92 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet)
28.76 feet at Pendleton (flood stage – 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
6.16 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
17.26 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
4.49 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
7.92 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
4.52 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are biting on chicken liver, shrimp and minnows in deeper water or around weed edges. Fishing has been best late in the day or right after dark. Bream fishing has been good on crickets, worms and panfish flies. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the Arkansas River stages are:
21.85 feet at Dardanelle (flood stage – 32 feet)
25.28 feet at Morrilton (flood stage – 30 feet)
12.06 feet at Little Rock (flood stage – 23 feet)
35.92 feet at Pine Bluff (flood stage – 42 feet)
28.76 feet at Pendleton (flood stage – 31 feet)
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
6.16 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
17.26 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
4.49 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
7.92 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
4.52 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish are biting on chicken liver, shrimp and minnows in deeper water or around weed edges. Fishing has been best late in the day or right after dark. Bream fishing has been good on crickets, worms and panfish flies. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Gaston’s White River Resort said one to three generators have been running around the clock, and fishing has been good. Fishing has been good on live redworms or yellow power eggs. Artificial lures that have been successful have been ¼ oz. or 1/8 oz. Gold Cleo Spoons and Countdown Rapalas in number 7 Gold or Silver. Fly fishing has been good with red San Juan worms, olive green Woolley buggers, 64 oz. pink jigs and 16 oz. olive jigs
Anglers White River Resort (870-585-2226) said the water is clear and dropping with no generators running. Trout are biting well on chartreuse and hot pink Power Bait.
Bull Shoals Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 656.83 feet MSL.
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said water is being run through the Bull Shoals Dam but not affecting the lake level very much. Bass fishing has been excellent on the classic jig-n-frog or jig-n-whatever trailer pattern in 10 to 15 feet of water, and on spinnerbaits or plastic worms along the brush or around the blue-sign brush piles. Many white bass are being caught at night under lights on minnows in 10 to 30 feet of water. Catfish are being caught on trotlines and jugs at night. They are being caught during the day on nightcrawlers. Walleye are being caught in brush piles, along the ends of timber bluffs, on chuck rock banks and on long flat gravel bars with a drop off. Walleye are mainly being caught on a split shot and nightcrawler, slowly trolling a crawler harness and bottom bouncer rig or long-line trolling deep-diving crankbaits or stink baits.
Bull Shoals Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said over the last week, water releases have been pretty heavy from the Bull Shoals Dam, producing very good high-water fly-fishing. Sulfurs are hatching on the lower river, so during low-water conditions, be sure to have plenty of mayfly patterns to imitate the nymphs, the emergers and the dry fly stages of the hatch. Patterns like the Mighty May, the Batwing Emerger, and the Spundun are working well. Fishing from a boat using sinking lines, cast to fishy-looking structure as you drift downstream and use an erratic retrieve to swim your fly across the current.
Lake Norfork : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.67 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear. Walleye are biting well on nightcrawlers with crawler harnesses, Hot-n-Tots, and Reef Runners. Bream are biting well on wax worms, redworms and crickets. Bass fishing is good. Top-water baits are working well in the morning, as the day goes on anglers should switch to soft plastics, especially shaky head worms. Catfish are biting well on cut bait and nightcrawlers. Striper fishing is good on top-water lures in the morning and 3-inch Kalin Grubs in 25 to 30 feet of water later in the day.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and there is one generator running around four in the afternoon. Fly and bait fishing have been good. A few browns have been caught on zebra midges and olive-colored woolly buggers. Working the banks and submerged tree stumps with Number 5 Rapala Count Downs is working well. Using corn or half a nightcrawler and a white or chartreuse Power Eggs also is catching fish.
McLellan’s Fly Shop said water releases have been very light, with one to two units usually coming on line sometime during mid- to late afternoon. The sulfurs and crane flies are still hatching, producing some excellent dry-fly fishing from mid morning to early afternoon. During the early morning hours, nymph fishing with classic mayfly nymph patterns like the hare’s ear and pheasant tail nymph has been productive; however, more realistic patterns like the mighty may and micro mayfly have been producing even more hook-ups. Once adult mayflies (and crane flies) are evident on the surface, definitely switch to adult patterns for some spectacular dry-fly fishing.
Table Rock Lake : Phillip Stone of Stone’s Guide Service said the bass have started moving into their summer patterns with the increasing water temps. Many are being caught on main lake points in 15-25ft. of water where shad are present. Anglers are still catching a few early in the mornings on topwaters on the shallow flats. But when the sun comes up, the bite is over and they start moving to deeper water. With the lake level up about 2 feet, some of the fish are using the bushes to ambush prey. Crappie have also moved out to deep water for their summer patterns. Try fishing the edges of creek channels with timber along the channel in 20-25 feet of water. Use a live minnow or a swimming minnow for best results.
Taneycomo: McLellan’s Fly Shop said two to four generators have been running at Table Rock Dam as they try to pull the lake level down. Nymph fishing out of a boat with larger scud and sow bug patterns has produced some spectacular fishing over the past week. With all of the high water, the trout are all fat, healthy and stronger than normal.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.74 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and at normal level. Stripers are biting in deep water on live bait. Bass fishing is fair in brush around 15 to 20 feet of water. They are biting on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and Brush Hogs. Catfish are biting well on goldfish. White bass and crappie are both biting well under lights around mid-lake at night.
Wiegmann’s Guide Service (479-756-5279) said the water is very clear in the dam area. Mid-lake, WarEagleRiver and White River are all lightly colored. Black bass are biting well on Booyah Jigheads with YUM Gonzo Grubs in green pumpkin, Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbaits in citrus shad or Texas red sparkle, Excalibur X4Jimmy in pearl melon, and YUM Houdini Worms in green pumpkin or junebug. The three most popular baits at night are dark-colored spinnerbaits with a single Colorado blade, plastic worm, and topwaters like a buzzbait or Jitterbug. Anglers who are catching bass during the day have had success on dropshot rigs and shaky head jigs rigged with a finesse worm. White Bass are being caught on Rebel Pop-Rs in shad patterns and Cordell Super Spots in Chrome/Blue. Stripers are being caught with Pencil Poppers in Pearl/Blue and jointed Redfins in Smoky Joe or Chrome/Blue. Anglers can anticipate fishing for stripers in deep underwater cluster of trees with the best bite at night or early morning. The area around Rocky Branch has produced some top-water bites early but it lasts a very short time.
Beaver Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been little generation this week. However, TableRockLake is backing up into Beaver Tailwater, producing deeper water conditions with little or no flow. Midge patterns are always important. Griffith’s Gnats and other midge dry fly patterns have been hooking plenty of trout as well.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on small jigs and minnows trolled around open water. Bass are biting well early on plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well in 4 to 10 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair. Some are biting in 4 to 10 feet of water on minnows around rock beds, logs and stumps. Bass fishing is also fair in these areas with spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfishing is slow, but a few are being caught on worms, chicken liver or cut bream in 4 to 20 feet.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is clear to dingy and up. Bream are biting on crickets. Bass are biting well on crickets and lures.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake: Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream fishing is excellent on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 35 feet of water at 15 to 20 feet down on minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is excellent on shallow-running crankbaits and top-water baits in the morning, deep divers in the evening. Catfish are biting excellent on stink bait and chicken liver.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and the fishing is slow.
Spring River : Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at a normal level. Trout are biting well on Power Bait and corn. Walleye are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on plugs.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot : Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is low. Bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Bass are biting well. Catfishing is good with worms.
Grand Lake : Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is low. A few crappie are being caught trolling with minnows and jigs.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.89 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water is above normal and rising. Crappie are beginning to suspend in Little River over and in planted brush piles with more regularity. Bass have pulled out to be near deeper water, but are still roaming shallow early and late. The best bass bite over the past few days is on Bass Assassin Shads, grubs and Johnson spoons in grass and lily pads. Crankbaits in chartreuse and white are taking some good numbers of bass on points. Ten-inch worms in purple or red shad or black in the muddy colored water along the river, or a Bass Assassin Shad in Gold Pepper Shad color, are working well on a Carolina rig. Largemouths continue to respond to crank baits like the Fat Free Shad and Rat-L-Traps in the larger 3/4 oz size, in white or firetiger colors. Jigs and 10-inch worms continue working on base of cypress trees and stumps, but timing is the key with those baits. Crappie are biting the most consistently on shiners and smoke-colored Cordell (paddletail) grubs on lightweight white or chartreuse jigheads. Bream and Goggleye continue biting well on crickets and redworms. Channel Cats are improved on trotlines set around 9-14 feet deep, using cut baits, Catfish Charlie, and chicken liver. Spotted Gar are still cruising shallow flats and back of creeks, making very good opportunities for bow fishermen.
Lake Columbia : Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said there is a lot of fresh water. Bream are biting well in 1 to 3 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in the middle of the lake over deep holes in 8 to 10 feet of water on shiners. Bass fishing is good on tequila sunrise and red shad colored worms. Catfish have moved out into 5 to 8 feet of water, but are biting well on blood bait, nightcrawlers and catalpa worms.
Lake Erling : Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said there is a lot of fresh water. Bream are biting well in 1 to 3 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in the middle of the lake over deep water (8 to 10 feet) on shiners. Bass fishing is good on dark spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on just about anything you throw at them.
Lake Greeson : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 546.88 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and up. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass fishing are poor. Catfishing is fair, with a few being caught on stink bait and minnows.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the water is just under full pool. Crappie fishing is fair from 10 to 15 foot deep in 18 to 25 foot of water. Surface activity for the whites and stripers is nominal. Bream and catfish are fair.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 405.22 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is clear, in the 80s and falling some. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow in the morning, but picking up at night. Crappie are being caught on crickets. Bass are in around 15 to 25 feet of water and biting Carolina rigs, jigs and deep-running crankbaits. Catfishing is slow. Some catfish are being caught on bream, trotlines and noodles. Whites and hybrids are schooling in the mornings, then again mid-afternoon to dark.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle : Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is still muddy. Bass fishing has been real good on crank baits and worms. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie have moved out into deeper water, and are being caught on minnows. Catfish are the best thing going on stink bait.
Blue Mountain Lake : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 387.00 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is a little cloudy and up from normal. Bream are biting well on worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs with minnows. Bass fishing is good. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and high. A few bream are biting in the lakes on crickets and nightcrawlers. Catfishing is fair, with some biting shad and catalpa worms. A few bass are being caught on chartreuse crankbaits.
Lake Ouachita : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 575.83 feet MSL.
Mountain Harbor Marina said the lake is clear and around 80 to 84 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting fair and can be caught with U-tail worms, swim baits and grass jigs. Jighead finesse worms and Texas-rigged brush hogs are also working well. Night fishing with black spinnerbaits is the best bet over or near deep moss lines. Walleye are fair and biting on spoons and jerkbaits near creek channels and main lake points. Striper fishing is good on brood minnows and gizzard shad. Bream are still biting excellently on crickets and worms in 6 to 20 feet of water. Crappie are slow and biting over grass and brush in deeper water. A few are biting on large moss flats in water 16 to 25 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Arkansas shad, Tennessee shad and white are still the best colors for artificial baits. Catfishing is excellent with reports of fish being caught with live bait and stink bait in water 10 to 20 feet deep on jugs and trotlines.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are schooling early in the mornings, but it’s sporadic. A shad-colored Shad Rap will produce if you catch them at the surface. Once the sun is up, it’s slow fishing with finesse worms and drop-shot rigs. Walleye have slowed. Some large walleye are coming from the grass beds on Shad Raps in about 10 feet of water. Bream fishing is good on the west end of the lake and spotty on the east end. Catfishing is good on noodles baited with small bream set about 8 to 10 feet deep. Stripers are very good at night around the dam.
Kevin Billings from LakeOuachitaState Park said catfish and striper fishing is good. Striper fishing is good early in the morning on live bait, jigging spoons and gold fish. Catfishing is excellent on small bream and trotlines baited with minnows. One angler reported great catches with ‘Ol Roy tender vittles dog food on Jugs. Bass fishing is good on white spinnerbaits, plastic worms and Zara Puppies. Large bream are beginning to move back on the beds and fishing is fair on crickets and small jigs near the deep side of the hydrilla in 15 to 20 feet.
Lake Catherine : Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and close to full pool. Bream and crappie are biting on crickets. Bass are still hitting early and late on blue and silver surface lures. Walleye are biting over humps in water 14 to 20 feet deep on blue, white and silver lures.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports the noon to 10 p.m. generation schedule has maintained the water temperature between 58 to 60 degree marks. This regular schedule of running water has created a perfect environment for the fantastic rainbow trout population at Carpenter. Even though the summer season is in full swing, Entergy has been a major factor in the maintenance of LakeCatherine’s trout population. Bank fishermen are catching limits of trout daily by floating redworms and nightcrawlers under a bobber. Corn and marshmallow combinations are also doing well. Fly fishermen are recording limits of nice trout by casting egg patterns and streamers in the early morning hours. San Juan worms and olive-colored woolly buggers are also catching fish. Boat fishermen are catching trout using Rooster tails and small jigs while the turbines are turning. The striper fishing has been hit-and-miss with most decent fishing occurring below the bridge. Live shad fished under a balloon has been the most effective method while some smaller fish are being caught on top with large top-water baits.
Lake Hamilton : Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said fishing has been very slow during the day because of the heavy boat traffic. If you’re after bass, the bite’s at night. By the time the pleasure boats get on the water, the fishing is poor.
Lake Hinkle : Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets. A few crappie are being caught on minnows and some jigs. Bass are biting well. Some are schooling and being caught on plugs. Catfish are biting well on trotlines baited with goldfish and perch.
Lake Atkins : Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting well on wax worms, redworms and crickets. A few crappie have been caught. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish are biting well on crickets.
Lake Nimrod : As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 344.67 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water looks great and is up a little. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits in the morning and plastics in the afternoons. Catfishing is good on worms.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
No report this week.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is high and murky. Bream are biting well on wax worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair in the harbor on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on minnows, top-water baits and plastic worms or lizards. Catfish are biting well on worms and bass minnows.
RiverCity Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is high with a lot of current. Bream are biting in the back waters on crickets and redworms in 2 feet of water. Bass are biting around the brush in backwater on spinnerbaits and top-water baits. Catfish are biting on skipjack and nightcrawlers. Stripers are biting well around the lock and dam on 1.5 oz. white bucktail jigs.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and at about 7 feet. The bass were biting well this past weekend, before the rain, on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and tubes. They should start biting well again after the water calms back down.
MaddoxBay:MaddoxBay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is a pretty green color and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. A few crappie are being caught. Bass fishing is good on plastics, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting well on worms and nightcrawlers.
BearCreekLake:Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is murky and the fishing is poor.
Six RiversSportCenter (870-295-3236) said the water is a little low. Bream are biting well on red wigglers and crickets in about 4 feet of water. Shellcrackers are biting in 8 feet of water on red wigglers. Crappie are being caught trolling at about 16 feet.
HorseshoeLake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water looks good and is rising. Bream are biting well on Poppin’ Bugs. Crappie have slowed down, but a few are still being caught trolling in deep water with minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits in shallow areas where water is being pumped in. Catfish are also biting very well on nightcrawlers and cut bait.
Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is clear and low. Catfish are the best thing going. They are biting well on stink bait, chicken liver and nightcrawlers on jugs.