Fishing Tip: Summer is the worst month for keeping your bait alive. Lively bait means lively fishing. Put a couple of bottles of water in the freezer overnight. When you’re ready to go to the lake, put the bottles in the baitwell or minnow bucket to help keep them cool. You can also use small bottles to keep nightcrawler bedding cool without drowning them in melted ice.
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam: Headwater – 394.74 feet, Tailwater – 393.47 feet, Flow – 199,520 cubic feet per second
Dardanelle Lock and Dam: Headwater – 337.39 feet, Tailwater – 309.57 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam: Headwater – 290.43 feet, Tailwater – 289.62 feet, Flow – 215,680 cubic feet per second
Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Headwater – 274.63 feet, Tailwater – 273.63 feet
Murray Lock and Dam: Headwater – 246.83 feet, Tailwater – 243.59 feet, Flow – 193,923 cubic feet per second
Terry Lock and Dam: Headwater – 232.18 feet, Tailwater – 231.01 feet, Flow – 200,000 cubic feet per second
Sanders Lock and Dam: Headwater – 198.38 feet, Tailwater – 197.70 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 160.64 feet, Tailwater – 147.13 feet, Flow – 190,339 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:
5.2 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
9.2 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
9.9 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
22.5 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
10.2 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
19.8 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Channel catfish are being stocked in all program ponds and are biting well on worms, liver, hot dogs, shrimp and paste baits. Channel catfish are being caught with more success in early mornings and late evenings. Bream are biting well on crickets, wax worms and redworms. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are biting well 5 to 6 feet off the bank on wax worms and crickets. A few crappie have been caught near the boat docks and trees with minnows. Bass are biting near the boat docks.
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear. One generator has been running in the afternoons for two to three hours. Fish are biting well on wax worms with marshmallows, chartreuse Power eggs, Rooster Tails in black or green, spoons and jigs. Fly fishing has been most successful with midges. Black, chocolate, and red have all been effective.
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the dry flies that are working the best include BWO (blue winged olive sizes16-18), Adams (sizes 16-18), PMD (sizes 16-18 yellow or orange), midges (sizes 18-22 cream or black), and sulphurs (sizes 16-18 yellow). Tie a sulphur emerger in yellow, that is also taking trout. Sub-surface flies that are catching include the Red butt (another soft-hackle emerger sizes 14-16), sow bugs (sizes 14-16 tan or light gray), pheasant tails (sizes 16-18), zebra midges (sizes 16-22 red or black), prince nymph (size 16), San Juan worms (size 18 red), copper johns (size 16 chartreuse or red) and woolly buggers (sizes 10-12 olive, black or brown). Nymphing is the most productive means of catching trout in the Little Red River right now.
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.17 feet MSL
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service the surface temperature is in the low 80s most of the day. White bass and hybrids are hit-and-miss but can be caught schooling if you can find the baitfish in the open water areas. Night fishing is good around bridges and marinas. Bass fishing is good right now with most black bass in the shallows chasing bream. Some bass are out on the drops and can be caught on Carolina-rigged lizards and Texas-rigged worms. Salt Creek has been a good area to start your search. Crappie are biting jigs and minnows around brush in 15-25 feet of water. Bream are bedded and biting anywhere you can find some shallow cover. Walleye are biting on the flats in about 43 feet of water. The best bite has been on bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses dragged slowly across the bottom. Catfishing is good and the flatheads are spawning in shallower water.
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is up a little and murky. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass fishing is fair, with some being caught on spinnerbaits and worms. Catfish are biting well on worms.
Beaverfork Lake: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is up and muddy around the banks. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass are biting on artificial baits. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver.
Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is clear and beginning to go down. Crappie are biting well in deep water on minnows. Catfish are biting on the bottom with minnows and nightcrawlers.
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and is beginning to go down. Crappie are biting well on minnows in deep water. Bass fishing is better. Catfish are biting on the bottom with minnows and nightcrawlers.
Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are biting in 10 to 12 feet of water on small minnows, red/chartreuse and blue/white jigs. Bass fishing is fair on bubblegum or white flukes. Catfish are biting well on live bream and cut bait.
Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and down 1 ½ feet. Bream fishing is fair, 2 feet off the bank, on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on the bottom with just about anything.
Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well in 10 to 12 feet of water on crickets.
Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is at normal level and colored. Bream are in around 10 to 12 feet of water and biting crickets. Crappie fishing slow. A few crappie are biting in 15 feet of water in the brush on red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are in 12 to 15 feet of water in the brush and being caught on dark-colored plastic worms. Catfish are in 6 to 8 feet of water and being caught on Magic Bait.
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is colored and low. Bream are biting on yellow grubs. Crappie fishing is slow, with a few being caught on live bait in the brush. Bass fishing is good on small buzzbaits and Chug Bugs. Catfish are in 6 to 7 feet of water and being caught on Magic Bait.
Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the flow from Lock 9 is 215.7 cubic feet per second with a headwater of 290.52 and a tailwater of 288.00. Bow fishing is flooded fields and backwater is excellent with big headed carp and grass carp. Catfishing in flooded areas using worms is great. Bass fishing is good using spooks, tiny topwater lures and structure baits. Crappie and bream are biting well on rooster tails. Gar are biting in backwater on live bait such as bream or large minnows.
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are biting well on trotlines in the backwater. A few whites and stripers are being caught.
Little Maumelle Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting on crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish are biting well on trotlines, Yo-yos and limb lines.
Lake Valencia in Maumelle: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfish are biting well on chicken hearts and nightcrawlers.
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is still very high. A few catfish have been caught in the backwater on limb lines and Yo-yos.
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is a little muddy and at normal level. Bream are biting well in 3 to 4 feet of water on crickets, around wood. Crappie fishing is slow. A few crappie are being caught in 5 to 6 feet of water on blue/white tube jigs. Bass fishing is good on white/chartreuse buzzbaits early and late around grass. Catfish are being caught on cut shad and nightcrawlers at night.
Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is a little green, but at normal level. A few bream are being caught.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Gaston’s White River Resort said one to two units have been being run. Fishing is good on live red worms, yellow or white Power Eggs, gold Cleo spoons, and a number 7 countdown Rapalla in gold. Fly fishermen are having luck with pink jigs, red San Juan worms, and black number 10 Bi-visible.
Anglers White River Resort (870-585-2226) said the water is up and murky. Fishing is slow.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 656.05 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.
Bull Shoals Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said water releases have been pretty heavy from Bull Shoals Dam, producing some 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. During higher flows, this is also a great time to fish large streamers for aggressive brown trout. 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 554.10 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle said the water is clear and high. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow, but a few are biting over brush piles on minnows. Bass are biting well in the mornings on Spooks. As the day goes on they are biting on 8-inch Gene Lawrew worm or ½- to ¾-oz. jigs in peanut butter and jelly, brown and purple flash. The night bite is good on Gene Lawrews in red with gold or silver flakes. Catfish are biting on cut bait, nightcrawlers and live perch. Some stripers are being caught while trolling with 3- and 4-inch Pogies, Tail Dancers, Reef Runners, and Roadrunners in 20 to 50 feet of water. When the stripers are schooling they are being caught on watermelon or white grubs and Spooks. Walleye are being caught on nightcrawlers or leeches with Lindy rigs or bottom bouncers. They are also being caught while trolling a Rapala XRD10.
Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and two generators have been running. Rainbows, Browns and Brookies have been caught on yellow and white Power Bait, or redworms.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.94 feet MSL.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water clarity is good and slightly above normal. Crappie fishing is slow, with a few being caught on spider rigs with minnows and Hot-n-Tots. Bass fishing is slow. During the day, top-water lures and grubs are producing some bass and dark baits are working best at night. Catfishing is fair on trotlines with perch and goldfish. Whites are being caught on Cast Master spoons and Rooster Tails.
Brad Wiegmann from Wiegmann’s Guide Service (479-756-5279) said the water is very clear in the dam area and mid lake; however, War Eagle River and White River are slightly colored. Black, Spotted, and Smallmouth Bass are biting well on Booyah Moontalker spinnerbaits in Black/Blue or Black/Red, Bomber Fat Free Shad in Citrus Shad or Texas Red Sparkle, Zara Spook Jrs. in shad patterns, YUM 10” Ribbontail Worms in Tequila Sunrise, Junebug, and Red Shad. Night fishing has been very productive. Brush piles, bluff ends, and ledges have been productive places to fish. White Bass are biting well on Rebel Pop-Rs in shad patterns and Bomber Model 6As in shad patterns early or late in the evening. Stripers/Hybrids are being caught on CC Pencil Poppers in Pearl/Blue, CC Jointed Redfins in Smoky Joe or Chrome/Blue.
Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is at normal level and has good clarity. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are scattered, with a few biting on minnows. Bass are biting early and late on plastic worms and top-water baits.
Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is murky and up just a little from normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. A few catfish have been caught on chicken liver.
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is clear and near full. Bream are being caught on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows..
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 fishing is fair in 15 to 18 feet of water. Bass fishing is fair early and late on top-water plugs. Catfish are biting very well on chicken liver and nightcrawlers.
Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and at normal level. Catfish are still biting well on trotlines and jugs with goldfish.
Eleven-Point River: Woody’s Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water is clear and at normal level.
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is clear and at normal level. Trout are biting well on Power Bait.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on wax worms. Bass are biting well on top-water lures. Catfish are biting well on anything.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 260.55 feet MSL.
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the main lake clarity and visibility is heavily stained to muddy. Largemouth Bass were in process of summer transition, until the lake rose 15-20 inches in about 20 hours on Monday. The bass are roaming a lot. Black/blue or firetiger-colored buzzbaits, top-water frogs, Bass Assassin Shads and ¾- or 1-oz. Rat-L-Traps are catching good bass from 3 to 5 pounds in these areas, and on points with mixtures of grass and pads. 10-inch worms in blue fleck, purple, or red shad in the muddy colored water along the river, or a Bass Assassin Shad in chartreuse pepper-fire tail color, are working well. War Eagle spinnerbaits in copper peach, chartreuse and white, or firetiger colors, are picking up roaming fish in and over the flooded grass. Southern Pro Fattbutt Tubes with rattles, in pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, purple smoke/chartreuse tail, or black neon colors, using heavy sinkers for a fast fall and a reaction bite are working around stumps in vegetation, cypress tree bases, in 6-9 feet at the mouths of creeks where flooded bushes are half submerged. White Bass remained elusive again this week with all the current and muddy water in Little River. Crappie bite has all but shut off, due to the muddy water and current in the river. Channel cats are excellent on trotlines approx 6 to 7 feet deep on outside river bends where current is flowing out of the river's normal banks and in backs of the oxbows where current is rising. Cut baits, Catfish Charlie and chicken liver remain the most consistent producers. Yo-yos remain in action, as well as Catfish Charlie or homemade dough balls, hung from low cypress limbs over 7-8 feet depths in Mud Lake, Horseshoe and around Jack's Isle. Longnose or Spotted Gar remain shallow, and are cruising in the shallow flats and back of creeks, making very good opportunities additionally, for bow fishermen.
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is up and a little dingy. Bream fishing is fair. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting on deep-running baits. Catfish are biting well on stink bait and bream.
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is up and a little dingy. Bream fishing is fair. Crappie fishing is slow. Bass are biting on deep-running baits. Catfish are biting well on stinkbait and bream.
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.83 feet MSL.
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and clear. Bream are biting excellent in 2 to 10 feet of water, on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair, in 15 to 20 feet of water around brush piles, on minnows. Bass fishing is fair on top-water lures. Catfishing is fair on trotlines and jugs with live bait. Stripers and whites are schooling early and late. These can be caught on spoons and top-water lures.
Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the water level is rising and the temperature is still below normal for this time of year. Crappie are fair and scattered. All other species are just as scattered but can be found trolling crankbaits.
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 404.50 feet MSL.
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water clarity is good, and the temperature is in the mid 80s. Bream are on beds in 8 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are scattered during the day, with a few biting on minnows and jigs off the points. Crappie fishing is best at night. Bass are biting fairly well from daylight to around one hour after daylight in 5 to 15 feet of water on spinnerbaits, top-water baits and buzzbaits. Around 8 a.m. they are moving out to 20 to 30 feet deep. They are biting well on crankbaits, Carolina rigs, and heavier jigs late in the day. Catfishing has picked up, with some being caught in 20 feet of water or deeper on trotlines and noodles baited with bream. White bass and hybrids are schooling from Edgewood to the south and east toward Iron Mountain.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy’s Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is high and muddy. Bass are biting well on crankbait and worms in deep water. Catfish are biting very well on stinkbait and shad. A few stripers have been caught.
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 386.54 feet MSL.
CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is muddy and at normal level. Crappie fishing is excellent on minnows and jigs. Catfish are biting well on worms, stink bait and trotlines with minnows.
Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and high. A few bream have been caught in the lake on crickets. Bass fishing is slow, with a few being caught on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver and shad with floaters in around 4 feet of water.
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 575.50 feet MSL.
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said largemouth bass are biting well on Oxblood/Blue flake Magic worms, Oxy Crawl Magic worm, Plum apple Ol’ Monster worm rigged Texas style with a 3/16-oz. weight and a 1/2–ounce Bass Bully jigs. Stripers are hitting a ½-oz jigging spoon really well. Bream are also biting well.
Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that rainbow trout fishing continues to be excellent below the dam. The water temperature is holding at 58 degrees – thanks to Entergy maintaining a regular generation schedule. Threadfin shad are migrating to the tailrace area providing the area fish population with a healthy food source. Fly fishermen are catching limits of trout by casting streamers, wooly buggers, and San Juan worms over shallow flats in the early morning hours. Boaters are consistently recording good numbers of fish by casting rooster tails and small jigs around the bridge pilings. Trolling the channels will target larger trout that cruise the areas holding large schools of threadfin shad. Baits that imitate shad and crawfish which dive 5 to 6 feet deep are the most effective presentations. Bank fishermen are doing well using nightcrawlers and red worms floated under a bobber. Wax worms fished on the bottom with a marshmallow floater have been another preferred method. Most of the trout are in the 14 inch range with fish over 19 inches not uncommon. Stripers and hybrids are attacking the shad schools with topwater action becoming much more common now that the hot weather is beginning. Most of the good action is taking place below the bridge in the early morning hours. Large topwater baits such as a Super Spook in rainbow trout colors will draw strikes from these aggressive fish. Large shad floated under a balloon rig will catch hybrids and stripers that are following the shad schools.
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is in good shape. All species are biting well. Bream are biting on crickets. Crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting on some minnows, plastic worms, and top-water plugs. Catfish are being caught on trotlines with shiners and goldfish.
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clear and a little low. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie and bass fishing are slow. Some good-sized catfish have been caught on hot dogs and just about anything thrown at them.
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 347.11 feet MSL.
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is up and clear. Crappie are biting well on red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on plastic worms and top-water lures. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
No report this week.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on plastic worms and lizards or top-water lures. Catfishing is good on worms, crickets and chicken liver.
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river was muddy, but is beginning to clear up. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms.
Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is a little muddy and coming up. A few crappie and bass have been caught.
Island 40 Chute: Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said that catfish are the best thing going on nightcrawlers and stink bait.
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is still coming up. Bream are in the shallow water on the west bank near the piers and Cypress trees. A few crappie have been caught trolling in the channel. Bass are being caught on top-water lures in shallow water. Catfish are biting very well on nightcrawlers and cut bait.