(Updated 9-23-2015) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and at 82 degrees. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets about 10 feet away from the bank in 2 feet of water. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows and jigs fished 6 to 8 feet deep around green cypress trees near the Highway 89 Bridge. Bass are fair on white spinnerbaits and dark soft-plastics fished around the edges of lily pad fields. Catfish are excellent on trotlines and yo-yo’s baited with goldfish and set around creek channels.
(Updated 9-9-2015) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) had no report.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said fall is in the air along the banks of the Little Red. Cool nights and warm days provide great fishing weather. We are seeing fewer anglers now that school and hunting season have started. This means less pressure on the fish, creating ideal conditions for a great day. With the lake level back to normal, the Little Red is receiving a few hours of afternoon generation, giving opportunities for wading and drift fishing in all sections. Streamers, midges and soft hackles are working well for fly-fishers. For Trout Magnet fishing, red and cotton candy-colored bodies on gold and chartreuse jig heads are working well. We’re on the river every day, so if you have questions or need additional information don’t hesitate to email or give me a phone call for the latest river conditions.
(Updated 9-15-2015) Greg Seaton with Little Red Fly Fishing Trips (501-690-9166) said the river remains clear with about 4 hours of afternoon generation keeping the water cool, so wading and drift fishing are good. Midges are hatching on the upper river, and blue-winged olives and other mayflies are hatching from the mid- to lower river. Both hatches are better in the afternoon. Midge pupae, mayfly nymphs and emergers are the best wet choices and small dry flies are taking fish during the hatches.
(Updated 9-15-2015) James Dillard at Tailwater Fishing Company (501-207-1770) said fishing has been great. Cooler temperatures and lower water have helped a lot. The Corps of Engineers has been releasing water each afternoon for about four hours each day. Hot flies have been midges, San Juan worms and sowbugs.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.21 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
(Updated 9-23-2015) Cody Smith of
www.fishgreersferry.com said the water level is 2.33 feet below normal pool and is falling. The surface water temperature is cooling slowly. Catfish are biting well all over the lake, and can be expected to be good until December on cut bait and live bait. Bream are getting ready to spawn one more time as the moon is coming up, so for some decent action, fish shallow pockets with crickets and crawlers out to 15 feet of water. Bass fishing has improved, but the fish are scattered from 50 feet deep to right on the bank. Try drop shot rigs, Carolina rigs, jighead worms, small spinnerbaits and crankbaits for good action on smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass right now. No report on walleye. Crappie are biting fairly well around pole timber and brush in 15 to 45 feet of water around baitfish balls. Slow-trolling minnows and jigs is working fairly well. Hybrid and white bass are biting well, and if we get any rain we should see some tremendous schooling all over the lake. Fish can be caught best beneath the surface on spoons, in-line spinners, grubs and swim baits.
(Updated 9-9-2015) Tommy Cauley of
Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is 1.36 feet below normal pool and falling. Bream have been biting well on crickets, nightcrawlers, small crankbaits and bream flies all over the lake in shallow spawning areas. Bass are biting well all over the lake along the shore on topwater lures, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, bass are biting well on Carolina rigged soft-plastics and jighead worms. Crappie are hanging out around brush piles and pole timer in 12 to 18 feet of water. Anglers are having the best luck fishing minnows with some biting on jigs. Catfishing is still very good on cut and live bait all over the lake. Hybrid and white bass are excellent on topwater baits, spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits. They are putting on the weight for winter, so they are tearing up the shad schools right now on the surface and below. Look for the shad on your electronics in 25 to 45 feet of water.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and a little low. Bream are biting well on worms around the weeds and the levee. Crappie are biting well on minnows and white and clear colored jigs fished in about 12 feet of water around the coves. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on worms fished around coves on the bottom.
(Updated 9-15-2015) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are on minnows, Bobby Garland Baby Shads and 1.25-inch Itty Bit Swim’rs in deep water. Catfishing is good on frozen shad, minnows and worms. Bass are biting on buzzbaits and worms. White bass are biting on Cajun Spins, Johnson Silver Minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad grubs. Bream are biting excellently on crickets and worms.
Overcup Landing had no report.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Jan Johnson at Brewer Lake Bait Shop (501-354-4108) said crappie are very good in the mornings and early afternoons using minnows, crankbaits and live shad fished 6 to 10 feet deep over brush piles. Catfishing is slowing down, but some nice blues and channel catfish are still being caught on minnows, worms, stink bait and live shad at night. Bream are schooling around the shore in 2 to 4 feet of water and are taking crickets and redworms.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Charley's Hidden Harbor at Opello said flows have been up and down lately. Catfishing is good in 10 to 20 feet of water, drift fishing catalpa worms and shad. Largemouth bass are hit and miss with the flow. Blue and white jigs and green pumpkin worms fished on top of jetties have been the go-to lure. White bass are biting fairly well on pearl or shad-colored crankbaits near schooling shad. Bream are biting well around grass next to the riprap on black Rooster Tails and crickets in 3 to 5 feet of water. Stripers are biting well below the generators on live shad and bream in 6 to 10 feet of water.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water is 2 feet below the spillway and the water temperature is 88 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well on wacky-rigged worms, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and jerk baits in 10 feet of water and shallower. Evening fishing has been best. Spotted bass are being caught on crankbaits and jigs in 10 to 15 feet of water. White bass are excellent on deep-diving Bandit and Bomber crankbaits trolled 15 feet deep just west and east of Jolly Rogers Marina. CC spoons, white jigs and Rooster Tails are working well when a school fires up. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished 15 to 20 feet deep around brush. Bream are excellent on crickets and live worms in 10 to 15 feet of water.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said fishing has been pretty slow. A few people are catching some catfish on nightcrawlers and minnows. Bream have been scattered and are slow on crickets and worms. Bass fishing has been slow as well, with reports of only a few small ones being caught on minnows. No reports of crappie being caught recently.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said fishing on the river has been difficult due to low water. Some catfish have been caught on trotlines and limblines baited with minnows, black salties and chicken livers. Bass fishing has been slow, but a few have been biting in the deeper holes just below the riffles. Minnows, small plastics or small crankbaits fished on light line works best. Crappie are few and far between lately, but a couple were caught over the weekend while fishing with minnows. Gar are still active and quick to bite a minnow. They are plentiful and fun to catch. You'll need sharp hooks and strong line as they are a hard fish to hook. Bream will almost always provide plenty of fun fishing action on the river. Use small hooks, light line and tackle and crickets or redworms.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream are still biting fairly well on crickets and redworms. Catfish have been caught recently on minnows, nightcrawlers and chicken hearts. Bass fishing has been fair with Texas- and Carolina-rigged soft plastics and topwater baits fished around docks early in the morning and at night. There have been no recent reports of crappie being caught.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said customers report fishing has slowed slightly, but some decent crappie and bream are being caught. Crappie seem to like the bigger no. 12 minnows and Kalin’s Triple Threat grubs in bleeding Tennessee Shad and black/silver. Bream will hit the same crappie jigs, or crickets or redworms. Bass fishing is fair on soft-plastic worms and lizards. There have been a few bass caught on crankbaits and topwater baits early in the mornings. Catfish are biting well in the evenings on minnows, chicken livers and nightcrawlers.
(Updated 9-15-2015) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is very clear and about one foot high. The surface water temperature is cooling. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished around 2 feet deep near lily pads. Crappie are excellent on minnows fished 4 to 5 feet deep along the edges of channels. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics in water 3 feet deep and shallower. Catfishing is good on shiners and chicken livers.
(Updated 9-15-2015) The folks at
Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water has cleared a bit and surface temperature is in the 80s. Bass fishing has been good on crankbaits fished around the jetties in 5 to 10 feet of water. No report on any other species.
(Updated 9-23-2015) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is at normal level and is clear. No report on fishing.
(Updated 9-23-2015) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low and fairly clear. No report on fishing conditions.
(Updated 9-15-2015) Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is low and clear (for Peckerwood anyway). Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on black/chartreuse jigs fished around exposed stumps. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished around grassy areas next to deep water. Catfishing is good on worms, blood bait, stink bait, liver and hot dogs.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 676.70 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659 msl).
(Updated 9-15-2015) Bull Shoals Boat Dock said fishing hasn’t changed much yet from the summer patterns, but it is close. The lake is starting to drop faster. It is projected to go 4 inches a day and the back to normal date is Nov. 12. The water temperature is still in the upper 70s on the surface with the thermocline around the 25 foot level or so.
(Updated 9-9-2015) K Dock Marina (417-334-2880) said the lake remains very high with a small amount of water being released through the generators at Bull Shoals Dam. The lake is still about 25 feet above normal, making it difficult to fish normal patterns for walleye and crappie. The bass have been hot and cold the past few weeks, but are starting to feed on shad and crawdads. The lake may be high, but it is extremely clear. The water level should be back to normal by mid-November. The surface water temperature is 85 degrees. Black bass are best on topwater lures early in the mornings and on jigs, green pumpkin soft-plastics and crankbaits fished off points once the sun is up. Walleye are fair on large shiners and crankbaits. Bottom bouncing has been very difficult because of the high water. Spoons are working well on suspended walleye off the sand flats. Crappie are slow to fair. Live minnows fished around trees and brush piles may start working better once the water temperature cools below 80 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets and pieces of nightcrawler fished under a bobber along rocky bluffs and deep coves.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is high and clear with seven generators running. The high flow makes for little wadable water, but fishing from a boat is excellent. Just about anything is working for some rainbow trout. Fish spinners, Power Bait, frozen shrimp, crankbaits and heavy streamers anywhere you can find a current break.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said last week’s rain added more water to Bull Shoals lake, putting it close to 21 feet above seasonal power pool and 12 feet above flood pool. High levels of generation have allowed no wading access on the White River. Expect high levels of generation in the coming months. On heavy generation, the best way to catch fish is to switch to longer leaders and heavier weight. On the White, the hot spot was the catch-and-release section at Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (size 8-10), Y2Ks (size 14-12), prince nymphs (size 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead, size 16-18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10) and sowbugs (size 16). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite is a hot fluorescent pink or cerise San Juan worm with an orange egg suspended below it). Hoppers are doing well. To fish a hopper properly, use a seven-and-a-half-foot 4X leader and a stiff six weight rod. My favorites are Dave’s hoppers (size 10) and the western pink lady (size 8). To increase hook ups I always use a dropper. I am currently using a ruby or root beer midge in size 18 on a 3-foot or longer tippet (depending on the depth of the water I am fishing).
(Updated 8-26-2015) Jim Brentlinger with Linger's Guide Service said six to eight generators are running most of the time, and the larger brown trout have moved to the bank. Fish deeper banks around cover with Rapalas or Smithwick Rattlin' Rogues for best results. Don't give up as it is a painstaking endeavor, but you will like the results. When the water starts receding and gets noticeably lower switch to the Varimax Blue Fox spinner in a size 2 or 3.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 564.34 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 553.75 msl, April-September – 556.75 msl).
(Updated 8-26-2015) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said Norfork Lake continues to drop but it’s like watching paint dry, an inch or two a day. The oxygen content for the stripers is at 30 to 35 feet and 70 to 85 feet. The morning bite continues early. Stripers and hybrids are feeding heavy until the sun gets bright then they move into deeper water. The deep bite continues to be around the dam area. Where I have been fishing I can see the dam right in front of me. The stripers are holding from 70 to 85 feet right on the bottom in small groups of 3 or 4 fish. Most of the bites are very light. I have trained my clients to watch the rod tip. If they see it start to bend I have them reel very fast and that has been hooking the stripers. Many people have been missing the fish since you really have to pay attention to your rod.
(Updated 8-26-2015) Lou Gabric of
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said Norfork Lake fishing has been good for the last couple of weeks. The stripers and hybrids are doing what they should be doing this time of year. Big schools of stripers and hybrids can be found right before daybreak in 30 to 50 feet of water. They will be on the bottom or suspended 25 to 40 feet down. Main lake points and secondary points back in the creeks are good places to look, especially where the old river channel swings in close to the shoreline. My guests and I have found stripers in the Robinson area and down towards the dam. Threadfin and gizzard shad for live bait and spoons and swim baits for artificial baits are great choices. Most of the stripers being caught in the shallow water early in the morning are in the 5 to 10 pound range with the bigger hybrids just starting to show up. The bigger stripers are being caught out in deeper water 70 to 80 feet down on the bottom. When the sun gets high in the sky is the best time to find the deep stripers. Look at main lake points for these deep fish. Live bait and spoons are your best choices for deep fish. I expect to see these fish go a little deeper very soon. Walleye, smallmouth, largemouth, spots, catfish and white bass will be found in the same general areas as the stripers. 25 - 35 feet of water is the best place to start. The fish will also be suspended at this same depth following the baitfish into deeper water.
(Updated 7-29-2015) Guide Steve Olomon said the lake level is 571.9 and the water temp is in the upper 80s. The stripers are suspended 40 to 60 feet. Early in the morning, they are close to the bottom down at 40 feet. As the sun gets higher they start moving toward the deeper water. We caught a few small stripers on topwater back in Barren Creek. The bigger fish are in the deeper water within a few miles of the dam. Bass are coming up early and will hit topwater baits like a Spook or a Pop-R. After the topwater bite slows, throw a jig to the edge of the brush or a worm. When you mark fish suspended or close to the bottom, drop a jigging spoon.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said Norfork Lake is still well above seasonal power pool. The tailwater had limited wadable water every day. The Norfork has fished better of late now that the lake level has dropped enough to prevent the leakage around the flood gate that was being repaired. It has had the only wadable water and has been crowded at times. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (size 18-22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (size 14-16) like the green butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise size 10). There have been reliable hatches of small midges (try a size 24 Adams parachute) and caddis (try a size 18 elk hair caddis). The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. My favorite combination has been a grasshopper with a root beer or ruby midge dropper. There is a major construction project at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. You can still access Dry Run Creek, which has fished well. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12) and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10).
(Updated 9-16-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River is navigable. With the warm weather, the smallmouths are active. Try inline spinners, Rebel crawdad crankbaits, 4-inch finesse worms and tubes for good spin-fishing action. For fly-fishing, it’s tough to beat a Clouser minnow or crayfish pattern. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek is navigable. With the warm weather, the smallmouths are active. Try inline spinners, Rebel crawdad crankbaits, 4-inch finesse worms and tubes for good spin-fishing action. For fly-fishing, it’s tough to beat a Clouser minnow or crayfish pattern. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,125.70 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
(Updated 9-23-2015) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is still 6 to 7 feet high and clear. Bream are fair on crickets fished around any shoreline cover, but not many anglers are out for them lately. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs slow trolled near deep brush. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits on cloudy days and on deep-water techniques. Catfishing is fair on goldfish and chicken livers. White bass are fair on spoons fished near the bottom. Most of the interest around the lake has switched to hunting season.
(Updated 9-15-2015) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. Stripers are leaving their deep water summer haunts as the water is beginning to cool. Watch for surface activity from stripers, whites and hybrids. Beaver Lake Striper are using main lake points, humps, ridges, rock piles, brush lines and ditches on their annual up lake migration and in the search for food and scattered throughout the lake. They will be making their way into the creek arms soon as the water temp is beginning to cool. Fishing will be good with stripers taken on live shad fished from the surface down to 30 feet deep. Also try trolling small umbrella rigs with white or chartreuse grubs. For trolling crankbaits, try weighted lines or flatline trolling Rapala no. 14 Husky Jerks in black back or purple back colors and Smithwick Rogues in similar colors. Stripers also are being caught at night by casting main lake points with large surface lures like Redfins and Rapalas or large Rat-L-Traps. Hot spots include points 1, 3, 5, and 6, as well as the mouth of Indian Creek and back to the power lines. Most walleye have moved to deeper drops and are being caught about 20-30 feet deep. The best methods to catch the walleye are three-way rigging Rapalas, trolling Rapala Shad Raps or Rat-L-Traps at 1-2mph or jigging Bink pro scale 1-oz. jigging spoons in white or white/chartreuse.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Beaver Dam Store said areas of the river are finally opening up for wade fishing now that water is drawing down. Conventional fisherman have been doing excellently on Power Bait in orange and white with wax worms. Fly-fishermen have been doing well on anything in the olive spectrum (midges, wooly buggers, etc.) while low water exists. In high water, fish Clousers and big streamers. Now that Labor Day has passed, crowds have diminished. There’s still a little too much water to get across at the turn-around, but fishing is possible below the dam, at campground "C", Parker Bottoms and upstream from Parker Bottoms on the gravel bars.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Austin Kennedy of Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service (479-640-8733) said water levels are returning to normal and bank fishing is possible. The water temperature has been in the mid-50s to mid-40s from Houseman access to Spider Creek. Trout are biting on floating Rapalas, both thrown and trolled. Light terminal tackle with Power Baits are doing great as well. If you want some white bass or walleye action, head toward Beaver. Look for bait balls and troll or cast into them.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the largemouth bass bite has surged since the recent cooler weather. White and chartreuse spinnerbaits, white flukes and crawdad-colored jigs with a watermelon trailer have all been good this week. No double-digit bass have been caught, but many anglers were eager to show their catch. The hottest spots were in the mouth of Keeper Cove and along Grassy Flats. Bluegill have been good on crickets and redworms fished 2 to 3 feet under a bobber, with most folks taking home a nice mess of good-sized fish. Redear sunfish have been good on redworms fished on the bottom in 6 to 8 feet of water. The crappie bite hit a snag with the cold front, but you can find them fishing 8 to 12 feet deep with small minnows or small white jigs. Catfishing has been slow too, but they are starting to move up shallow for some early fall feeding. Use nightcrawlers, fished near the bottom. The bait shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but Lake Elmdale never closes.
(Updated on 9-15-2015) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets fished in brush piles 2 to 4 feet deep. Bass are fair on topwater lures around the edges of the lake. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers. No report on crappie.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets with no certain pattern or bedding behavior left. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 8 feet of water around the edges of channels. Bass are biting well on topwater lures and crankbaits. Catfishing is good on live bait and chicken liver all over the lake.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Lake Poinsett State Park said anglers are good at keeping secrets, but crickets and minnows have both been selling very well at the bait shop, so the bream and crappie should be biting well. This is the time of year that crappie anglers really start picking up some good limits. Lake Poinsett State Park will have a Kids Fishing Derby at the lake beginning 10 a.m. on Oct. 10. Bring out the family and enjoy some comfortable weather and great angling.
(Updated 9-15-2015) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is very clear and about a foot low. The surface water temperature is 80 to 85 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets around docks in 7 to 10 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Bass are biting well on watermelon-colored soft-plastics fished along ledges in 10 to 12 feet of water. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers fished along the flats.
Lake Frierson State Park had no report.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Mark Crawford with
Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 280 cfs and water clarity has been clear. This week Y2K’s have been hot. There have been a lot of mayflies and caddis flies coming off this week. Nymphs and emergers can work well during these hatches. Trout Magnets in hot pink and red have been great also. The Norfork hatchery stocked catchable size trout last week below Dam Three.
(Updated 9-16-2015) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said the water on the Spring River is navigable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff because there is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).
(Updated 9-15-2015) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear and about 70 degrees from the high flow coming from the White River lakes. Crappie are fair on minnows in brush 2 to 3 feet deep. Bass are fair on crankbaits and watermelon/red or green pumpkin soft plastics in the mouths of creeks. Walleye are fair on a jig-and-minnow combination in the main river near the shoals in 8 to 15 feet of water. No report on catfish or bream.
(Updated 9-16-2015) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water clarity is just under 1 foot in the main channel and just over 1 foot in Lake Langhofer. Water temperatures have started falling again with the return of cooler nights. Most areas are back down in the low 80s and falling. The main channel this weekend was barely moving. Black bass are biting well both on the main channel and in the backwater areas. Cooler weather has really helped boost their activity. Fish moving baits like buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits in the morning, and then switch to jigs during the middle of the day for a big bite.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said bass are biting very well on topwater baits and Rat-L-Traps early in the morning and around sunset. Locating crappie has been hit-and-miss, but if you find them they are biting well on minnows.
Lake Chicot State Park had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.36 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.20 msl).
(Updated 9-23-2015) Mike Siefert at
Millwood Lake Guide Service the lake level is 2.4 inches above normal conservation pool and steady. There is only light current in Little River with the gates releasing 173 CFS as of Monday. Millwood State Park still remains closed until further notice from the recent high water flooding of the campground and damage. Surface water temperature ranges from 80 to 86 degrees. Water clarity continues to improve, with 15 to 25 inches of visibility in the main lake away from current. The oxbows upriver also are seeing much clearer water, from 20 to 40 inches of visibility in places. Largemouth bass have been excellent during the last few weeks. The best bite is at dawn around shallow vegetation on frogs, Bass Assassin Shads (best colors are Mississippi Hippie, Roadkill, and Salt and Pepper Silver Phantom), War Eagle buzzbaits, Cordell Crazy Shads, and shallow jerk baits. Later in the heat of the afternoons, Largemouth bass are biting well on Echo square-billed crankbaits in Ghost Minnow, Gold or Millwood Magic colors, Rat-L-Traps in transparent, Ghost Minnow and Sexy Chrome and 5- to 7-inch worms around cypress trees in 5 to 10 feet of water. Spotted Bass continue to congregate at creek mouths that dump into Little River. Spots are aggressive on smaller lizards and tubes with best colors over the past couple weeks being pumpkinseed/chartreuse, appleseed, or green pumpkin/blue. Zoom Trick Worms, wacky rigged in watermelon/red flake, are working as well around isolated stumps, cypress trees and vegetation. White bass continue roaming Little River and the oxbows, and are schooled up in creek mouths dumping into Little River. Whites continue being caught on red/white Rooster Tails, chartreuse/white Little Cleos, shad-colored Rocket Shads and Tennessee Shad and Citrus Shad deep-diving Bomber crankbaits in creek dumps and mouths of sloughs connecting with Little River. Crappie improved on planted brush over the past couple weeks. Cotton Cordell smoke-colored paddle tail grubs on light wire jig heads and Blakemore Roadrunners in white/chartreuse have been working past couple weeks in 9 to 15 feet of water over planted brush piles. Blue catfish and channel cats continue biting well this week in Little River on yo-yo's and trot lines baited with chicken livers, hearts and gizzards, and blood bait set 10 to 17 feet deep. Yo-yo’s baited with live shiners under cypress trees in the backs of oxbows are working well set 8 to 19 feet deep.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 540.32 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).
(Updated 9-9-2015) Gary Lammers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said surface temperature is 88 degrees. The water is clear throughout the lake. Schooling activity has been good in the mornings and late in the afternoons. Fish are hitting small CC Spoons in chrome, 2-inch twister tail grubs and small topwater lures like the Zara Puppy and Spittin' Image Jr. White bass are holding 15 to 20 feet deep under schooling spotted and largemouth bass and are hitting shad-colored crankbaits. If you can’t find schooling activity, a few bass have been taken on Texas-rigged worms along rocky banks in 12 to 15 feet of water. No report on crappie or catfish this week. This is the time of year when water levels really begin to drop from decreased rainfall and power generation, so practice safe boating and be aware of shallow areas and obstacles just below the surface.
Click here for more water safety tips.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 396.87 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
(Updated 9-23-2015) Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the low 80s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is good with quite a few nice catches reported. It is the time of year that the shad migrate to the creeks and the backs of big coves. There’s quite a bit of morning and evening surface feeding activity. Cast a topwater as close to breaking fish as possible for the best results. Texas- and Carolina-rigged worms or lizards are working well on points in big coves and creeks as well. Look for fish at mid-lake between Caddo Drive and Shouse Ford, and look in major creeks, such as Big Hill, Brushy and Yancey. Hybrid fishing is good with the fish starting to migrate upriver from their deep water summer haunts. Many fish are being caught early in the morning at Shouse Ford and Beaton Creek. Look for surface feeding fish in the vast shad schools. Throw small topwater lures such as Baby Zara Spooks, Tiny Torpedoes, small Flukes or 3-inch swim baits. When the fish go down, try a jigging spoon or big in-line spinner. Some fish were reported at Point 15 and Woodall Cove. Be there early. The action is pretty much over by 8 a.m. Bream fishing is good with lots of fish, especially shell crackers, biting off points in the big coves. Tightline a redworm or cricket near the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water. Look for fish at mid lake in the Edgewood Arlie Moore. Some good catfish catches were reported from the coves on the south side between Alpine Ridge and Island 34. Look for a cove with deep standing timber and bottom fish with chicken livers, hot dogs, cut shad, nightcrawlers or blood bait.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park (870-685-2748) said bass are biting fair at best, but a few can be caught late in the evening on flukes, spinnerbaits and brush hogs. Bream are biting fairly well on worms and crickets. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with live bream and prepared catfish bait. Rod-and-reel fishing has been good for catfish as well. No report on crappie. The lower lake still has a daily catfish limit of 5, a daily bream limit of 50 and catch-and-release regulations for any other species.
Tri-County Lake will be undergoing a 5-foot drawdown until late fall. This is being done to compact the silt which has been building in the lake, reduce some of the aquatic vegetation in the lake, make repairs on jetties which have deteriorated over the years and address the lake's stunted crappie and bream populations by forcing these smaller fish into areas where they are more susceptible to the lake's predator fish.
Local angler Jaret Rushing had no report.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Buddy Ham at Sportsman's One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) said bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits. Crappie are slow. Catfishing is fair. A few bream are being caught in the river.
(Updated 9-2-2015) Jaret Rushing said a few anglers have caught some nice bass on the Ouachita River by flipping jigs and plastics around fallen timber once the sun is up. The morning bit still is fairly good on buzzbaits and other reaction baits.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Buddy Ham at Sportsman's One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) said bass, bream and catfish are all slow. A few crappie are being caught at night under a lantern, but that’s about it.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said there have been a few good bass caught lately with the cooler water. One was caught on a buzzbait in the early morning.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 342.48 feet msl (full pool – 342 msl).
(Updated 9-2-2015) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said the water is pretty clear and getting back to normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs slow trolled around brush. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished near brush piles. Catfishing is good on shrimp in deep water.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are on minnows, Bobby Garland Baby Shads and 1.25-inch Itty Bit Swim’rs in deep water. Catfishing is good on frozen shad, minnows and worms. Bream are biting excellently on crickets and worms.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said the surface water temperature has cooled to 78 on the river channel with flow and dingy conditions. Some backwater areas and creeks are still clear. Bass have been good early in the morning on topwater lures in the creeks, then switching to soft-plastic worms and crankbaits fished around rocky areas during the day. In the mid-river and lower section of the lake, brush piles and vegetation have been excellent places to fish a swimming jig for a good bass bite. Striped bass can be found outside the buoy lines at the power plant and in the current breaks on the river. Topwater poppers, prop baits, swim baits and spinnerbaits have all been good. White bass have been at the heads of the creeks and are biting spoons, small Rat-L-Traps and swim baits. Catfish are still holding in the main river channels and are biting well on cut shad, skipjack and bream. Bream are holding around the rocks near the river from surface to 3-feet deep.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.86 feet msl (full pool – 384 msl).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 568.99 feet msl (full pool – 578 msl).
(Updated 8-26-2015) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water temperature is 86 to 90 degrees and the water is clear. Black bass are fair on drop-shot rigs, Texas-rigged worms and jigs fished around brush and other cover near points. Early in the morning, buzzbaits, poppers, chuggers and Horny Toads are working around topped out grass and shorelines. Walleye are still very good on main lake points and humps on 3/4-oz. CC spoons jigged vertically around any cover you find. Stripers are biting well on live shad and hair jigs in the eastern end of the lake around main lake humps. Bream are biting well on worms, grubs and crickets near brush in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are slow on minnows or crappie jigs about 15 to 20 feet deep. Catfishing is very good on nightcrawlers and stink bait.
(Updated 9-9-2015) Tom Duke and Phillip Kastner with
Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports Fishing Report in Hot Springs said the water level is dropping very quickly. Live crawfish pitched along a secondary drop in 20 to 30 feet of water should be heating up right now. The surface water temperature is in the mid-80s. The walleye bite is still good on a nightcrawler rig, but not as good as it was. There's a lot of good bass fishing in the moss on the northern end of the lake. There also are a lot of breaking fish about halfway in the creeks on the south side of the lake.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Darryl Morris at
Family Fishing Trips said white bass have been schooling in the early mornings on Hamilton lately. CC spoons and Rooster Tails are the best bets to catch these schooling fish.
(Updated 9-23-2015) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said Entergy has gone to a minimum flow generation schedule below Carpenter Dam. Flow will occur every few days to maintain lake levels, but this plan is subject to change due to demands on the system. Water temperature has risen to 64 degrees below the dam with clear conditions in the tailrace. Rainbow trout fishing is over until mid-November when the water cools and the stocking program begins again. Large schools of threadfin shad are migrating into the tailrace from the main lake, which has attracted several fish species into the area to feed. Walleye have been caught on brightly colored jigs in the main channel. These fish are on the small size with the majority weighing just over a pound. Carolina rigs tipped with nightcrawlers or live minnows have also been effective in the late evening. A few white and black bass have been caught around the dam on Alabama rigs and spinnerbaits cast over rock structure. Very little surface action has been observed despite large numbers of shad in the area. Catfish are biting well below the bridge on cut bait fished under a jug or tightlined from a boat. As water temperature cools, numbers of game fish will move into the area to feed. Striper and hybrid action has been very slow, but this can change rapidly with the presence of baitfish. Catfish are still being caught below the bridge on cut-bait fished under a jug or tightlined from a boat.
(Updated 9-16-2015) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said bream are still staying on their beds and hitting on popping bugs. Crappie have started hitting on jigs and minnows. Bass have slowed, but spinnerbaits have produced a few fish. Catfishing is still steady on stink bait and hot dogs. Mississippi River State Park Visitor Center is also selling crickets; worms, frozen shad, jigs and crank baits. Minnows will be coming soon in the fall. For any questions or more information please call the Mississippi River State Park Visitor Center at (870) 295-4040
(Updated 9-16-2015) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said bream are biting well on crickets and popping bugs. Crappie and bass are both slow. Catfishing is good on hot dogs. The water temperature is slowly dropping. Mississippi River State Park is hosting a kayak tour at Storm Creek Lake on Saturday, Sept. 19. Call the park at 870-295-4040 to sign up. The Storm Creek Lake Clean Up will be hosted by the St. Francis National Forest and Mississippi River State Park on Oct. 3 this year as well. Come on out and help us keep our lakes clean.
No report.
No report.
No report.
(Updated 9-15-2015) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said said the water is cool and a little high. Last week was excellent of fishing. Bream are biting well on crickets in 2 to 4 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on jigs fished in brush 2 to 4 feet deep. Bass are biting very well on crankbaits, topwater lures and soft-plastics fished close to the trees. White bass are hitting well in swift water. Catfishing is good in deeper holes near swift current on worms and stink bait.
