Fishing Highlight of the Week: If you’re looking for a new place to fish, we have a resource for you. Thanks to a partnership with DeLorme, the Arkansas Atlas and Gazetteer has been reorganized and updated with all AGFC boat ramps and lakes, as well as current boundaries for all the AGFC’s wildlife management areas. There’s even a section devoted to family-friendly activities including museums, state parks and historical sites. The atlas costs $23 through the AGFC website, and covers every acre of Arkansas’s outdoors. You may need to order two, because once your fishing buddies get a look at the new atlas, you might not get yours back. Click here to order.
Arkansas 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
Family and Community Fishing Ponds: Catfish can be caught on nightcrawlers, Power Bait or chicken livers, and the quality of the meat rivals any you will find in a grocery store. Visit http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingProgramsFCF.aspx for a list of program ponds.
Central Arkansas
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms along the bank. Crappie are biting well on minnows around cypress trees with green leaves still on them. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and worms fished near the bank. Catfishing is good on green sunfish and bass minnows hung from limb lines or trotlines.
Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) had no report.
Little Red River
Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear with very little generation. Trout fishing is excellent on wax worms, Power Bait and San Juan worm flies. Larger fish are showing up in preparation for their spawning run. This weekend, Lindsey’s will host a Youth Outdoor Adventure retreat for children 8 to 18. Guides will take the kids out for some hot fishing action on Saturday morning, and the resort will host classes on casting, fly tying and fishing as well as some hunting topics during the afternoons. Call the resort for more information.
Greers Ferry
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 459.79 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling, with some generation going on in the afternoon. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in the pole timber in 60 feet of water or so, suspended in 15-25 feet. If it’s cloudy, they will be scattered and if it’s sunny, they will be grouped tight together in the school. The walleye bite will be picking up after this rain and cooler water. Try dragging crawlers and minnows on jigs heads on rocky flats, points and humps in 15-43 feet of water. Catfish are still on the move, feeding all over the lake. Jugs, noodles and trotlines baited with cut bait and live bait are working well. Bream have finished their last spawn, and are guarding the fry. Use small crankbaits, crickets and crawlers for best results. The bass are in a transition and are scattered everywhere from 6 inches of water to 60 feet deep. Hybrids and white bass are biting well on a variety of baits, including spoons, in-line spinners, swimbaits, topwater baits and even live bait crawlers and bream. The best bite is from Eden Isle, south toward the dam.
Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said water levels are down 2 feet below normal pool and falling slowly due to lack of rain and minimal generation. Surfacing and schooling fish are feeding throughout the day with the morning bite being better than the afternoon. The next cold front should spur some feeding activity. With water temperatures in the upper 70s, the bite should only get better. Shad from ¾ inch to 5 inches are on the lips of main lake flats and pushing to secondary points in the creeks. Now is the time to be on the water.
Harris Brake Lake
Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and slightly low. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.
Greer’s Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shads. Catfishing is good in deep water on blood bait and liver. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Rooster Tails. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets.
Lake Overcup
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said bass are being caught over brush tops on black soft-plastic worms. Crappie are being caught in 8 to 10 feet of water using pumpkinseed/chartreuse and pink/white/chartreuse jigs. Bream are good on crickets and wax worms. Catfish are being caught on trotlines using live bream and skipjack.
Brewer Lake
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said crappie are being caught over brush tops on white Crappie Stingers. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Catfish are biting well on noodles or jugs baited with live bream and night crawlers. Bass are fair.
Lake Maumelle
Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water level has dropped to 2.8 feet below the spillway, which is normal for this time of the year. The water temperature has also dropped 8 degrees in the last week. Largemouth bass are biting very well on Carolina rigs, jigs and Texas-rigged soft plastics around 20 feet deep. There has been some movement to the shallow water, so shallow crankbaits and topwater lures should start catching a few fish. Kentucky bass are biting very well on jigheads and grubs in secondary coves from 10 to 15 feet deep. White bass are biting well from the east end of Big Island to the restricted area. Trolling with jigs, Rooster Tails and Rogues about 20 feet deep is the way to find the fish. Once you locate a school, stop and use a CC spoon to catch a boat load. Crappie are excellent on the edges of channels in 20 to 25 feet of water. They are hitting small jigs and grubs and small minnows. Bream are excellent on crickets near channels in 5 to 20 feet of water. Catfishing is good on cut shad and prepared bait.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on redworms and crickets in 10 to 12 feet of water. Crappie are fair on white/chartreuse mini jigs and tight-lined minnows in 10 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on topwater stick baits and shad-colored crankbaits. Catfishing is good on cut shad and brood minnows.
Lake Valencia
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is good on chicken hearts, stinkbait and nightcrawlers. All other species are slow.
Sunset Lake
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on 2-inch Tennessee shad-colored grubs in 8 to 12 feet of water. Bass are biting well on 6-inch red shad-colored worms around brush in 8 to 12 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on Catfish Charlie.
Saline River Access in Benton
Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and low. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on 2-inch lemon meringue grubs. Bass are biting well on moss green-colored Rebel Crawdad crankbaits in about 2 to 3 feet of water. Catfishing is slow.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said there has been some dredging upriver lately. Shad are grouping up and gar are moving to the shallows. There has been some great bowfishing lately. Largemouth bass are biting well on redbug-colored worms around the jetties. Catfishing is very good on whole shad drifted from a boat. Bream are biting well on crickets along the grass lines. White bass are schooling on the front sides of jetties at Grandmas Point, Coppers Gap and Flagg Lake Cutoff. Shad Raps are working well on the white bass.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said fishing has been good around the Little Maumelle and Maumelle rivers. Bream are biting well early and late on crickets. Crappie are biting well on live minnows. Bass are biting well on Gilmore Jumpers, Zara Spooks and other topwater lures in the mornings and on chartreuse spinnerbaits with tandem willow leaf blades during the day. Catfishing is excellent on chicken hearts and cut bait. In the main channel, bass are biting well on black/red tubes and fire crawfish-colored Bomber Model A crankbaits around the jetties. Catfishing is good in the channel on live brood minnows and cut shad.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on crickets. Bass are fair on black/blue and green pumpkin jig and pigs and Senkos fished parallel to rock jetties around wood. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers.
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said fishing below Murray Lock and Dam is fair. Crappie are fair on minnows under a slip-cork. White bass are fair on white mini jigs and chartreuse twister tail grubs. Catfishing is good below the hydro plant on cut skipjack.
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is at normal level with no flow. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on black/blue jigs fished around backwater grass lines. Catfishing is good on cut skipjack and nightcrawlers.
Clear Lake
McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and worms.
Peckerwood Lake
Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is 2 feet low and clear. No anglers have been on the water lately to give a report.
Lake Pickthorne
Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows under a slip cork. Bass are fair on topwater lures and black/red tubes. Catfishing is good on cut bait and live brood minnows.
North Arkansas
White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and high with six to seven generators running around the clock. Trout are biting well, but angling is limited to boat fishing only. Fly fishing with copper johns and San Juan worms is working well, as is fishing with a grasshopper pattern on the surface. Red or pink trout worms are working well for bait anglers. Spin fishermen are doing well with silver or gold Lil Cleos and Buoyant Spoons. Green, red or brown Rooster Tails are working well, as are white ¼-ounce marabou jigs.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said five to eight generators are running this week. Countdown Rapalas in black/silver and black/gold size 7 and 9 fished over the drop offs have work well.
Guide Davy Wotton said the lower temperatures haven’t hindered fishing, and the action is still good. Generation may slack off with the cooler weather and less power demand. Hoppers and hopper/dropper combinations are still catching many trophy browns as well as some better than average rainbows and cutthroats. If you find fish are moving to your larger dries then reduce the fly size, even ants and crickets will do well. Streamer fishing has its ups and downs, some days the bite is good others very slow. Nymph fishing is probably the most productive way for numbers of fish, and occasionally a big brown with take a small nymph. Given water conditions are generally clear then fish will easily see smaller flies, sizes 12 to 16 fished at depth. Combinations of midge, GRHE, PTNs, worms, sow bugs and scuds are all well worth fishing. You may have to reduce leader/tippets to 4x or less for the smaller flies, 5x being overall best.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said water levels remain relatively high but consistent. Trout are continuing to hit Countdown Rapalas in sizes 7 and 9 cast toward the bank or any place where there is a seam or fast water meeting slack water. Power Bait is working well dragged on the bottom, but most of the fish caught on Power Bait have been small.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides said the water levels are: Ponca – 1.31 feet and 1.9 cfs; Pruitt – 3.12 feet and 2.2 cfs; Tyler Bend – 3.47 feet and 40 cfs; Buffalo Point – 2.23 feet and 69 cfs. The entire river is very low and wading or dragging a canoe is the only way to fish except in the Buffalo Point area and below. Water temperatures are ranging from 68-79 degrees. Smaller fish have been the rule. The river flows are very low and care should be taken to not spook fish. Spin fisherman are doing good bottom bouncing tubes, lizards and brush hogs in watermelon/red and green pumpkinseed. For fly anglers, try crazy dads, rabbit tail sliders, woolly buggers and Clouser minnows on both floating and sink-tip lines.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelly’s Slab is reading 9.3 ft. and 4.3 cfs. The creek is really low for floating but fishing is excellent for wading. Spin fishing with soft plastics and 1/16-oz. jigs will consistently catch good numbers of fish. Topwater lures are working well also and some days will catch just as many as bottom bouncing plastics. 4-inch lizards, 3-inch tubes and brush hogs in watermelon, watermelon/red and green pumpkin colors along with Tiny Torpedoes and small buzzbaits are working. Flies to use include Clousers, zonkers, crazy dads, near nuff sculpins, poppers, sliders and hopper patterns.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 661.36 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service said jigging spoons have caught a mixed bag of fish from 25 to 42 feet deep. Shad Raps trolled on leadcore line and crawler harnesses fished behind a slowly trolled bottom bouncer have done well on walleye, bluegills and catfish. White bass are holding a little deeper at 40 feet, while the walleye are staying around 28 to 32 feet deep.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said water releases are continuous at 16,500 cfs. Drift fishing has been very good with sink-tips and medium-sized streamers with good numbers of rainbows and browns. Hopper patterns are doing very well also, as has nymphing with scud, sow bug, caddis and worm patterns. Minnow crankbaits in black/gold and black/blue are working along with brown trout colored jointed minnows. In-line spinners like Rooster Tails and Mepp’s are also picking up fish.
Lake Norfork
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 555.5 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Blackburn Resort said the water is dropping about 4 inches a day. Surface temperature is in the high 70s and water is clear on the main lake and stained in the creeks. Stripers are still deep and crappie, walleye, white bass and bass are on brush at 23-30 feet deep on and around points. There is a topwater bass bite some mornings and a good late evening bite just before dark. Spoons and live bait are working best for everything.
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort had no report.
Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the upper 70s. Bass are hitting topwater lures early on points. White bass are coming up in the creeks and are chasing baitfish around 3-inches long. Throw a spinnerbait along the bank back in the creeks for some bass. After the topwater action stops, look for the whites 30-40 feet deep and drop a jigging spoon. Stripers are still 60-80 feet deep. One striper last week was even reported from 96 feet on a downrigger.
Norfork Tailwater
Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report.
Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said two generators are running all day. Corn fished on the bottom has worked best this week. Countdown Rapalas size 7 in Rainbow, Black/Silver, and Black/Gold have work well in the afternoon.
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been continuous and running steady at 4,400 cfs. Scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges, San Juan worms, eggs, hoppers, ants, beetles and streamers should be in your arsenal now.
Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,121.13 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).
Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said the cold weather really put Beaver Lake stripers on the prowl! The striper fishing has been good with numbers of fish taken on live shad fished on lightly weighted balloon lines trolled 50-100 feet behind the boat and on Rapalas set 10 to 20 feet deep on downriggers. There has also been some good topwater action on big stripers this week. The stripers are active most of the day with peaks around sunrise, sunset and during generation. White bass also are beginning to school on the surface. The whites, stripers and hybrids may be mixed together at some places, so be sure to identify the fish you keep. There is a three-fish limit on stripers/hybrids and a 20-inch minimum length on stripers. Be sure to check out Point 1, Indian Creek, Lost Bridge North and Point 3, as stripers have been in these areas. The fishing is excellent at Lost Bridge South in front of Starky (try the island at Starky and the humps from the island to Lost Bridge South Park). At Rocky Branch, some stripers have been taken at Point 6 and the small island in front of the water intake. White bass and walleye have been caught near the road bed that extends to the island and in the marina and Larue Cove. Walleye activity is picking up at Horseshoe Bend and Monte-Ne around the island flats. White bass, hybrids and small stripers are surfacing in these areas. Most walleye are about 8-15 feet deep off points and flats around the islands at Rocky Branch, Prairie Creek and at points 6, 5, 3, and 1. Flat line troll with Hot ’N’ Tot’s, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back combos or chartreuse/orange and clown colors. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing.
JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been tough. Try working a Carolina- or drop shot-rigged green pumpkin finesse worm or lizard over points with timber, along sloping banks with timber and over gravel humps. A crawdad-colored crankbait along chunk rock banks has also produced a few fish. Crappie fishing has been tough. Fish have been scattered at all depths. The best presentation is to take a black/chartreuse or yellow/white tube or curly tail grub on a 1/16-oz jighead and fish them slowly from the bottom up in 20 to 35 feet of water close to timber or brush. Night fishing has been productive using lights in the mouths of small coves along bluff lines. Live minnows or shad fished below the lights 8 to 20 feet deep should work. White bass have been hard to find, but once a school has been located schooling on main lake flats, a chrome Kastmaster spoon will be effective. Catfish have been biting at night from the bank using liver or worms. Monte-NE, 12 bridge, 412 bridge and Hickory Creek have all been good places to try for catfish.
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear, but not as clear as usual. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and small silver or gray tube jigs or grubs in the upper river arms. White bass and black bass are biting well on spoons during the day. Black bass are also biting well on jigs and motor oil or green pumpkin-colored shaky head worms. Night fishermen are picking up a few bass on black soft-plastics and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on live goldfish and bream hung from limb lines.
Beaver Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides said generation has been starting around 2 p.m. and running for an hour or two at 2,000-8,000 cfs. Wade fishing is available from the dam to Parker Bend. The better fishing is from just above Cane Brake to Parker Bottom. The river bottom has changed with some new holes, so be careful. A variety of presentations are working throughout the day. Try small streamers and soft hackles early, then nymphing during the heat of the day. Suggested patterns include; .56ers, sparrows, wooly buggers, partridge and peacock soft hackle, scud, sow bug, pheasant tail, hare’s ear, zebra midge (olive, gray or cream), and brassie (natural and red).
War Eagle Creek
Loy Lewis from War Eagle Canoe (479-530-3262) had no report.
Lake Elmdale
Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said bass are biting well early and late in the day on topwater frogs. Soft-plastic worms in green pumpkin or brown have worked well after sunup. Crappie are biting well on minnows and red/chartreuse jigs tipped with a Crappie Nibble in six feet of water. Redear are biting well on redworms near the bottom. Bluegill are biting excellently on crickets. Catfishing is fairly good on stinkbait.
Kings River
Just Fishing Guides said the river gauge near Grandview is reading 2.31 ft. and 28 cfs. Water temperatures are hitting in the upper 70s in the afternoon. If you are using a boat, be prepared to walk quite a bit. Best fishing times are very early and very late. Fishing is good for fly fishers using Clousers, sparkle grubs, rubber leg woolly buggers and various poppers and sliders like sneaky pete and rabbit tail sliders in black, yellow and white. Size 4 and 6 hopper patterns are another good pattern to have in your arsenal. Spin fisherman are catching fish with tubes, lizards and baby brush hogs as well as small crawdad crankbaits and topwaters like Tiny Torpedoes and Rebel Pop-R’s. Don’t forget to try a buzzbait or spinnerbait.
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and small Roadrunner jigs. Bass are biting well on artificial lures, but there’s been no report of which lures have been producing the best. White bass are biting fairly well on Rooster Tails and Roadrunner jigs. Catfish are biting well on chicken liver, but bait and Magic Bait.
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are beginning to bite on crankbaits trolled in deep water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastics. The bass are beginning to chase shad in the mornings and late evenings, so be ready with a topwater in case a school begins breaking the surface. Catfishing is excellent on worms, chicken livers and shad.
Northeast Arkansas
Lake Charles
Lake Charles State Park had no report.
Lake Poinsett
Lake Poinsett State Park said the lake looks good. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good. Bass are good on redworms and jigs.
Crown Lake
Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is 2 feet low and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. No report on crappie. Bass are fair early and late in the day. Catfishing is good on chicken livers.
Lake Frierson
Lake Frierson State Park said the water is low and murky. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Spring River
Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels have been at 310 cfs at the spring and water clarity has been perfectly clear. With the low and clear water, nymphs have been the hot flies of the week. Pink Trout Magnets have been the ticket for rainbows and the browns and cutthroats seem to like white and red. No split shot is needed with low water.
Southeast Arkansas
Lake Chicot
Lake Chicot State Park had no report.
Cane Creek Lake
Cane Creek State Park said crappie fishing is beginning to pick up on the southeast side of the lake using minnows. Bass fishing seems to be slow right now.
Lake Monticello
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said fall is in the air and good fishing has to be on the horizon. Over the next few days, expect cooler surface temps as the nights are going to be in the 50s. As for fishing, the bass have been biting a very slow presentation out on the drops. Both worms and jigs have been productive over the last week. The shallow crankbait pattern should continue to improve as the shad stay active.
Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said River Run East Park (below the spillway and dam) and boat ramp are temporarily closed for maintenance and construction until further notice by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Parks at River Run West and Beard’s Lake and boat ramps are still open and operational. Surface temperatures dropped to 77 to 87 degrees. The lake level is 45 inches below normal pool. The USACE has maintained the total discharge of 173 cfs. Visibility ranges 12-20 inches in the river depending on location. Use extreme caution during drawdown conditions, as stumps and other hazards are nearing pool surface, many cut-offs, boat lanes and trails through timbered sections of main lake are extremely shallow during drawdown conditions. Bass are schooling much better from daylight until noon at random locations on the river. We have even observed whites and largemouths schooling upriver in midafternoons over the past few days. Largemouths are still relating to points and where creek channel mouths intersect and dump to the river. Keeper-sized largemouths are fair to good on War Eagle Spinnerbaits, Bomber Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Johnson Chrome Spoons in the lily pads, Southern Pro Fatt-butt Gizits, and Bass Assassin Shads. Strikeworks jigs in Diablo, Brown Pumpkin/Chartreuse, or Hot Peanut Butter ’n Jelly are beginning to take some nice bass in ditches and creek channel swings on stumps and timber in 4-9 feet depths. Bomber crankbaits in Citrus Shad, Foxy Shad, and Tennessee Shad are working as well. White bass and spotted bass continue schooling from daylight until around noon, at various locations upriver in creeks and oxbows. Hurricane Creek has produced many schooling whites and spotted bass very early. These schooling fish are hitting Rat-L-Traps and Bomber crankbaits up Little River. Crappie are stacked vertically in planted brush piles along Little River between 12-18 feet deep. The bite was somewhat better over the past week along Little River on tiny hair jigs in the clearest water you can locate from 7-10 a.m. Catfish are slow to fair with the reduced current in Little River. Trot lines, yo-yos and tight lines baited with chicken livers, Catfish Charlie and large redworms were working along Little River.
Lake Columbia
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report.
Lake Erling
Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report.
Lake Greeson
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 538.49 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).
Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear in the main lake and murky in the shallows. The water level is low. Bream are biting well on worms fished around shallow cover. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair on crankbaits and topwater lures. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. Many anglers have been doing well with a rod-and-reel for the catfish lately. Walleye are slow.
For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.
Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Cossatot River
Cossatot River State Park said the water level at the Cossatot River is starting to slowly and steadily rise. The rising water levels and cooling water spells more oxygen in the water. This should make the fish begin to become more active after the long hot summer. This is a great time of the year to try a topwater bait for bass or bream. Spinners such as Rooster tails are also good.
DeGray Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 397.52 feet MSL (Flood pool - 408 MSL).
Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the mid-80s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing has slowed the past few days and the cold front has shut down the morning topwater bite. Some fish are being taken on the deep side of main lake points in 15 to 25 feet of water on Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms and jigs with a critter type trailer. Look for fish on big main lake points or humps from the Spillway to Arlie Moore. Crappie fishing remains slow, but should pick up with the cooling water when the fish return to the attractors from the deep timber. Look for brush in 18 to 25 feet of water and fish a 2-inch grub or tube in Tennessee shad directly over the cover. The best areas for fall crappies are the main lake attractors from Edgewood to Shouse Ford. Hybrid fishing is holding up pretty well with the fish suspended over deep timber at 40 to 45 feet in 80 to 100 feet of water. Use your sonar to find the fish and drop a 3-inch smoke/silver glitter or chartreuse/black flake grub or jigging spoon to just above the fish. The best areas are between Iron Mountain and the islands across from the state park. Bream fishing is good with fish being taken in most any cove with some cover. The smaller fish are shallow and the bigger ones are near the bottom in 18 to 25 feet of water. Catfishing is good with some nice catches of channel cats reported. Most fish are being taken using noodles set about 20 feet deep at night. The best baits are nightcrawlers, stink bait and a hot dog/soap combo. Best areas are around Point 10 to Ozan Point and Brushy Creek. Also check around the islands across from the state park.
West-Central Arkansas
Lake Nimrod
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 343.11 feet MSL.
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting on minnows, and even some on crickets and worms in the upper river around 6 to 12 feet deep. Bream are biting excellently on crickets, worms, Rock Hopper flies and chartreuse/black micro jigs in 6 to 12 feet of water.
Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are excellent on crickets and worms. Catfish are biting fairly well on worms and chicken livers.
Fourche La Fave River
Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said catfish are biting well on yo-yos and trotlines baited with minnows, liver and stinkbait.
Lake Hinkle
Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report.
Lake Dardanelle
Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said bass fishermen are reporting that they are having a good time fishing, but few large fish are coming in. Soft-plastic worms are the best bait for bass. Crappie have been doing well with many reports of limit catches on clear/sparkle tail and chartreuse jigs; however, only six to eight of the fish are large enough to keep. Minnows are working the best in deep water for larger crappie. Catfish are a little slower than usual, but fresh shad and green worms are catching a few. Bream fishing is excellent on crickets and green worms.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 385.08 feet MSL.
Lake Ouachita
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 569.73 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).
Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is good with a lot of schooling action during the day. Spinnerbaits and topwaters are producing some fish. Try a spoon to get beneath the schools where the larger fish are. Stripers have slowed, but are still being caught around river channels in 60 feet of water on vertically jigged spoons.
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said water temperature is in the low 80s. The lake level is falling. Bass are being caught on Texas-rigged soft plastics in brush, and on points on a topwater lure. There is some moss growing on humps and when you can find some, try a crankbait on the deep sides. Also try a fluke on breaking fish at the mouths of creeks. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms in 5 feet of water or less.
Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clearing and is 84 to 92 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on red shad and bloodline-colored Texas-rigged worms and football jigs. Topwater action has been good on cloudy days; try a small Spook or Fluke in a shad color. Walleye are still biting well on bottom bouncer jigs, spoons and trolled deep-diving crankbaits fished 25 to 35 feet deep around brush. Stripers are still fair to good and being caught on live bait and large hair jigs trolled in 35 to 70 feet of water. Bream are fair and being caught on crickets and worms 18 to 25 feet deep. Crappie are slow and being caught near and over brush in 25 to 40 feet of water on minnows and Tennessee shad or rainbow trout-colored grubs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines hung 20 to 30 feet deep.
Lake Hamilton
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the surface temperature is in the low 80s and is cooling. The water is clear. The lake is full and the summer boat traffic is slowing. Bass are being caught in brush piles on Texas- and Carolina-rigged soft plastics. Also, try a topwater bait at the mouths of creeks and points. After a rain don’t forget a spinnerbait in a creek. Bream are in 5 feet of water or less in the guts of pockets; try crickets or worms.
For a daily fishing report from Darryl Morris, visit Family Fishing Trips.
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 64 degrees during periods of no generation and falls to 61 degrees while the turbines are running. Clear conditions exist from the dam to the bridge with Entergy scheduling a consistent generation pattern. Rainbow trout fishing will begin again in late November when the stocking program resumes. With a 5 foot drawdown planned for Lake Catherine beginning in November, wade fishing will be excellent for most of the season. White and hybrid bass are slow with small numbers caught close to the dam on live minnows. Late October will bring big numbers of white’s into the tailrace and these fish will remain for most of November and December. Crappie will also move close to the dam in November. Walleye in the 2 pound range are staged in the deep water next to the dam. Live minnows and ¼-ounce jigs presented vertically are the best methods for catching these fish. Freshwater drum are also present, feeding on shad over shallow flats. Nightcrawlers or crayfish are excellent choices when fishing for drum. Striper activity is poor with no topwater action observed.
Lake Atkins
Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.
South-Central Arkansas
Moro Bay
Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay had no report.
Ouachita River Oxbows
Jaret Rushing had no report.
Tri-County Lake
Jaret Rushing had no report.
East Arkansas
Bear Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park said sunfish are being caught from the bank using live bait. Catfish are being caught by jug fishing using small green sunfish. No report on bass or bream.
Storm Creek Lake
Mississippi River State Park said bream are fair on crickets. Catfishing is good on chicken livers
Arkansas River at Pine Bluff
The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) had no report.
White River
Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and about 10 feet high. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and little jigs. Bass are fair on soft-plastic tubes and flukes in green pumpkin. Catfish and walleye are slow.
Maddox Bay
Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits fished underneath overhangs and around brush. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and worms.
Burnt Cane Lake
Local angler Trent Whitehead had no report.
Horseshoe Lake
Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is at normal level and is fairly clear. Catfishing is excellent on cut bait. All other species are slow.