(Updated 10-21-2015) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and about a foot low. Bream are excellent on worms and crickets fished right on the bottom about 10 feet from the bank. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs under the Highway 89 bridge, in Caney Creek and Gold Creek. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in creeks where shad are congregating. Catfishing is fair on minnows, cut shad and stink bait.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said all species are fair at best.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said the Little Red is receiving small amounts of generation during the weekdays with no generation over the weekends. With low water, remember to use small fluorocarbon tippet to increase your catch numbers. Streamers, midges, eggs and soft hackles are working well for fly anglers. For Trout Magnet fishing, try candy cotton and bison-colored bodies on gold and chartreuse jig heads. Always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Greers Ferry Lake Powerhouse recording or check the Corps of Engineers website for real time water release and the Southwest Power Administration forecast generation schedule.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Greg Seaton with Little Red Fly Fishing Trips (501-690-9166) said with the wind from the south and low water, fishing was tough Sunday and Monday. Wade fishing the shoals was the best option. The wind would blow you upstream, making it almost impossible to get a drift while boat fishing. We did manage fish on midge pupae wherever we could find a little current to get a drift. The lack of generation has shown the result of siltation on the river. I hit bottom in places I never had a problem before. The runoff from heavy rain this past spring has settled on the shoals, flats in the river and filled in the boat lanes in many places such as Horseshoe Bend and Rainbow Island. Even a jet motor will not get you over some of areas that were passable last year. Take extra care when running the river during this period. A few browns are beginning to stage and I found a couple of redds on a shoal in the lower river Sunday. These redds were probably rainbows spawning. Recognize the spawning redds and avoid wading through them, since this will destroy the eggs and prevent a good brown trout spawn.
(Updated 10-14-2015) James Dillard at Tailwater Fishing Company (501-207-1770) said fishing has been good. We have had low water flows that provide great wading opportunities up and down the entire river. Hot flies have been sow bugs, midges and pink San Juan worms.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 458.56 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
(Updated 10-21-2015) Tommy Cauley of
Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level 3.80 feet below normal pool and falling. Hybrids and white bass fishing is fair, but the rain coming will really improve things. As for now, the shad are wanting to hang out at 40 to 50 feet deep. You need to stay on top of them with a vertically jigged spoon, inline spinner, swim bait or Rinky Dink to catch some hybrids and whites. For the surface feeding fish, switch to topwater baits. Walleye are mixed up with whites, hybrids and smallmouths. Try dragging crawlers or minnows on the bottom or trolling a crankbait in 18 to 40 feet of water. No report on crappie or catfish. Bream can still be caught shallow, but some have moved out to about 28 feet and will eat crawlers and crickets. Bass fishing is pretty good for smallmouth, spotted bass and largemouth, with a lot of smaller fish being caught all over the lake. The rain coming will help that bite as well and put more fish shallow. Sometimes they make a brief move deeper, then go shallow, so keep that in mind. For deep fish, use Carolina rigs, Texas rigs and drop shot rigs. For shallow fish, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits should do the trick.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Cody Smith of
www.fishgreersferry.com said water levels are 5 feet below top power pool and falling slightly with no significant rainfall. Water surface temperatures are still in the lower 70s lake-wide. Game fish are spread out from one foot of water to 30 feet. Look for fishing to improve greatly with water surface temperatures falling over the next couple weeks. White bass and hybrids are feeding on top most mornings in isolated locations. Once we see our surface temperatures get down in the mid 60s look for surfacing throughout the day rather than first and last light.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is slightly low and clarity is fair. Bream are biting well on crickets around the shoreline. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs with a few really nice crappie being caught lately. Bass are excellent on silver and gold lures wherever you can find concentrations of shad. Catfishing is excellent on worms. White bass are biting very well around the shad schools as well.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting on minnows, Bobby Garland Baby Shads and 1.25-inch Itty Bit Swim’rs in BBQ chicken, Cajun cricket, blue ice and monkey milk colors. Catfishing is good on shad, minnows and worms. Bass are biting on buzzbaits, minnows and soft-plastic worms. White bass are biting on Cajun Spins, Johnson Silver Minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shads and Itty Bitty Swim’rs. Bream are fair on crickets and worms.
Overcup Landing had no report.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Jan Johnson at Brewer Lake Bait Shop (501-354-4108) shad no report.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Charley's Hidden Harbor at Opello said the wind and cooler temperatures have moved bass up to shallower water. Black/blue jigs fished in 3 to 10 feet of water and shad-colored crankbaits fished in 5 to 10 feet of water along jetties has worked fairly well. Catfishing is good on whole shad fished in 10 to 15 feet of water. White bass are fair on shad-colored crankbaits fished around jetties warmed by the sun. Drum are biting extremely well on crayfish-colored crankbaits around jetties.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water level is 2.7 feet below the spillway and the water temperature is 78 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well on wacky-rigged worms, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and jerk baits in 10 feet of water and shallower. Spotted bass are biting well on crankbaits and jigs in 10 to 15 feet of water. White bass are excellent just west of Jolly Rogers Marina and on the east side of the lake. They are being caught on CC spoons, white jigs and Rooster Tails when they are schooling and on Bandit and Bomber crankbaits trolled 15 feet deep when they are roaming. Crappie are fair in 15 to 20 feet of water around brush. They are being caught on crappie minnows and jigs. Bream are excellent on live worms fished 15 to 20 feet deep around any submerged brush or fish attractors you can find. Catfishing is good on chicken livers, small bream and commercial stink bait in 10 to 15 feet of water.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said lately the catfish having been doing well on chicken livers and shrimp. Crappie have been slow, with a few being caught on pink minnows . Bass have been hitting topwater baits. Bream have been hitting crickets.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said the water is still low. Catfish are biting fairly well on trotlines baited with goldfish and black salties. Bream have been hitting well on crickets. Bass have been slow on Zoom Brush Hogs. A few crappie have been caught on no. 6 crappie minnows.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream slowed down a lot, but a few big ones are being caught on crickets. Bass have been hitting buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting on livers and nightcrawlers. No report on crappie.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said crappie been fair on no. 6 crappie minnows. Catfish are biting well on shrimp and Sonny's dip bait. Bream are fair on crickets and redworms.
(Updated 10-21-2015) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms around deep brush. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished 8 to 10 feet deep in the channel. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits fished from the bank to 5 feet out in 4 feet of water and less. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and shad on trotlines. There have been quite a few anglers out in the last week with the cooldown.
(Updated 10-21-2015) The folks at
Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said the main river is fairly clear, but the backwaters are muddy. The surface water temperature ranges from the high 60s to the low 70s, and the water level is about a foot low. Crappie are biting well in 10 to 15 feet of water, but anglers haven’t pinned down any specific locations. Bass are biting well on small crankbaits, especially the new Megabass S-cranks anywhere around woody cover near the channel. No report on catfish or bream.
(Updated 10-21-2015) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is at normal level with little to no current. The surface water temperature is in the 60s. Fishing has been very slow with the lack of current lately.
(Updated 10-21-2015) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is low and clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are beginning to bite well on jigs and minnows. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on skipjack.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear (for Peckerwood) and the surface temperature is in the 70s. The water level is very low. Crappie are biting well on minnows and various color jigs right now. Bass are fair. Catfishing is good on hot dogs and minnows. Herman’s Landing will be closing from Oct. 31 through the end of duck season, so get your fishing in now at Peckerwood.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 665.94 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659 msl).
(Updated 10-14-2015) K Dock Marina (417-334-2880) said the lake is about 7 feet away from being back to normal. We are looking forward to getting our launch ramp back for the fall. Shad have become very concentrated on the flats. Many anglers are catching good numbers of white bass near K Dock. Once the lake stops dropping 6 inches per day, the fall bite should be great for all species. The surface water temperature is 70 to 72 degrees, and the water clarity is clear. Black bass are biting well on a variety of baits. Topwater lures are working well in the morning. Spinnerbaits are producing on windy days. Jigs and crankbaits (particularly squarebills) are producing well around points and high rock bluffs, however zebra mussels have moved in at many areas and will tear up your line, so check it often. Many anglers have resorted to fishing with braid to save their line from being cut. Walleye are fair on bottom-bouncing night crawlers. Trolling crankbaits will improve once the lake stabilizes. Crappie are fair on live minnows. White bass are biting well on lipless crankbaits, Rooster Tails and small spinnerbaits. Follow the surfacing shad and you’ll find the fish.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Bull Shoals Boat Dock said said surface water temperatures are in the 70s. The Army Corps of Engineers has been steadily running water. If you are fishing by the dam, be sure to fish the long points with gravel and chunk rock for smallmouth. Dragging a tube or shaky head, with a Zoom trick worm or UV worm in brown, watermelon or green pumpkin 20 to 27 feet deep. Fishing has been better up the lake and in the bigger creek arms. Fall is here and the shad are starting to migrate. Keitech swim baits fished super slow are working, as are Rite Bite ½-oz. PB and J jigs with a Net bait Paca Craw or Zoom Fat Albert or Creepy Crawler in green pumpkin will work as well. Look for points back in that flatten out in deeper water 20 to 26 feet deep. Anglers also are catching a few largemouths and spotted bass in the very backs of creeks on War Eagle spinnerbaits on windy days. For the walleye guys, bottom bouncers are starting to work on deep sides of main lake points. Use a 1 ½-oz. bouncer with a worm harness in 24-26 feet of water, and then run 30-32 feet.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is high with 6 generators running wide open. Trout fishing is excellent for boat anglers, especially those using guides who can concentrate on maneuvering the boat while the anglers fish. Pink trout worms have been the best lure for bait anglers after rainbow trout. Brown trout have been biting well on stick baits, and some large browns are really starting to show up lately.
(Updated 9-30-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the White River saw high levels of generation with no wadable water. 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 Wildcat Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers (size 8-10), Y2Ks (size 12-14), 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).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 558.17 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 553.75 msl, April-September – 556.75 msl).
(Updated 10-21-2015) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said the stripers are confused. For a few days the weather is cold and the water begins to cool, then we get a few days of hot weather and water warms back up. The lake has not turned over yet. Until we can get a continuing cooler weather and the water temperature gets down to the low 60s, we will not see a consistent bite. The only area that is somewhat consistent is near the Arkansas/Missouri state line where there are plenty of shad and schooling stripers. It’s not outstanding, but it’s the best place to catch a few stripers right now.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Lou Gabric of
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said water level continues to drop 3 to 4 inches per day. The lake level currently sits at 556.72, which is only about 3 feet above normal pool. The surface water temperature is 70 degrees and falling. The main lake is clear with the creeks and coves stained. Norfork Lake's fishing pattern is entering its fall phase. Striped bass are continually moving and not being very consistent in their feeding location. Over the last week I have covered most of the central to northern parts of Norfork Lake from the Robinson area, up to the state line and also back though the Fouts area and all areas in between. The most notable thing is that the bait has moved back into the creeks with very little bait being found in the main lake. I have found scattered stripers back in the creeks feeding on small 2-inch shad. I have also noticed a few scattered fish along the deep bluff lines in the main lake. My guests and I have caught stripers back in the creeks during the early morning hours as well as the afternoon. Both live thread fin shad as well as vertical jigging with a spoon has been working once you find the fish. As the water temperature continues to fall the fish will become more aggressive in their feeding habits and will start to school. Any time now you will find stripers feeding after dark up close to the banks. If you decide to try the night bite get a few suspending jerk baits and cast as close to the shoreline as you can, then retrieve to the boat very slowly. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass are biting fairly well. The bigger bass started to move up into the sunken brush a week or so ago, but have since moved back out. I believe their move to deeper water occurred due to the drop in the lake level. Most of the sunken brush is now exposed or is out of the water. You can still find a few areas with brush in the water, but I can only catch small fish in these areas. One of our guests loves to throw a jig and pig and is doing quite well. You will catch a lot of short fish, but the bigger ones are also in the area. You will be able to find some good bass in and around brush piles in 30 to 35 feet of water. Vertical jigging with a spoon will start to work as the water temperature continues to cool. In general, soft plastics are working the best worked along the bottom starting in 10 - 15 feet of water out to 40 feet of water. The bluegill bite is still very strong. If you want to fill up your freezer with a lot of tasty fillets get some crickets and fish around 20 to 30 foot deep brush piles. I am finding a lot of schooling white bass back in the creeks feeding on the baitfish. Most of the whites are small to medium-sized fish, but are a blast to catch. Spooning has been working very well. Crappie fishing has also been inconsistent. They are still roaming through the deeper water going from brush pile to brush pile. Keep checking out all your brush piles and you will find them.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the low- to mid-70s. The stripers are scattered all over the lake and can be from 30 to 50 feet deep. There are some whites back in the creeks following the baitfish. There are baitfish up in the flooded brush along the banks. Throw spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the outside of the brush. The windblown banks are better. I found a few bass coming up early that would hit a Spook, but the action is short-lived. Throw a jig and drag it along the bottom out to 30 to35 feet of water. We need some cooler weather to get the water temperature down into the 60s and the fish will start feeding better. It will also move the stripers up and the night bite will start again.
(Updated 9-30-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the Norfork has fished better 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 beadheaded 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. Youths can still Dry Run Creek for some excellent fishing. It has seen more pressure with school out. It still 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 9-30-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River are navigable. Smallmouths are fairly 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 9-30-2015) Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek is navigable. Smallmouths are fairly 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 1,124.02 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
(Updated 10-21-2015) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said the annual Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs kids fishing event is right around the corner and volunteers with boats are still needed. Volunteers will take kids from the HOFNOD program out to go fishing on Nov. 17. Lunch will be provided. Please call Mike at 479-366-8664 or email him at beaversafari.com@hotmail.com for more information and to volunteer.
The water is in the low 70s. Stripers are leaving their deep water summer haunts as the water is beginning to cool. The lake turnover is beginning, and you will see debris floating off the bottom in your sonar. Fishing is good with live shad fished from the surface down to 30 feet deep. Also try trolling small umbrella rigs with white grubs or chartreuse grubs for stained water. Plugs trolled on flat lines or slightly weighted lines will work. Try using large, slender plugs like Rapala no. 14 Husky Jerks in black back or purple back colors and Smithwick Rogues in similar colors in 5-6inch model. Striper are also being caught at night by casting main lake points with large surface lures like Redfins and Rapalas or large Rat-L-Traps. The hot spot right now is Indian Creek. Check main lake structures and secondary points in the area for stripers as they make their way up the creek arms. Points 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 also are worth checking out as the stripers move in the creeks. The bluff in front of the marina in Rocky Branch and the smaller islands in front of Larue and Goat Island are producing stripers. Most walleye have moved to the second drop and are being caught about 20-30ft deep they can be caught using a variety of methods. Try three-way rigging Rapalas in natural colors for clear water or chartreuse/orange and clown colors in areas of stained water. Also try Shad Raps in natural colors and Rat-L Traps trolled at 1-2 mph. Bink pro scale 1-oz jigging spoons in white or white/chart combo are producing walleye.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and in the low 70s. The water level is a few inches high, but very nice for this time of year. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crankbaits and jigs trolled near the channel breaks and transitions. Bass are biting fairly well, and are getting better in the river. Topwater baits are working in the morning. After that spinnerbaits and jigs are the main fish-catching lures. Catfishing is good on live bait.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Beaver Dam Store said they will be sponsoring the annual free One Fly/One Lure Tournament Oct. 17 on the Beaver Dam tailwater. Registration will be accepted until 6:30 a.m. the day of the tournament. Visit the store’s website for more information. Fly-fishing has been excellent on midges in size 16 to 18, woolly buggers and micro jigs in olive or brown, and prince nymphs. Rapala F9’s and F7’s also have been working well now that the brown trout have pushed up the river. Trout Magnets have been producing good numbers of fish, as have inline spinners. Bait anglers should focus on using Power Bait in white, chartreuse, red or sunrise.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Austin Kennedy of Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service (479-640-8733) said water levels are within the normal range, which is consistent with this time of season and generation schedule. The trout have been highly active in the early morning hours, biting on various Power Baits using light terminal tackle. Pulling Rapalas is still getting the job done on some of the bigger ones in the warmer waters downstream from Houseman Access. A few walleye have been caught toward Beaver Town and Holiday Island in the 14-foot range. No significant white bass have been marked from Houseman to Beaver Town.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the lake is a little low, and the water has been murky. It seems to be clearing up as the turnover is about finished. Crappie fishing was good earlier last week, with many being caught on minnows under a slip bobber at 11 feet. The best locations were in the pocket by the launch ramp and about 50 yards in front of the public dock over old brush. Bass fishing was also good midweek on green/white spinnerbaits. Fish the opening of Keeper Cove slower than you normally would. Plastic worms and green/brown bass jigs have also worked well. Catfishing was good, especially Friday and Saturday, with chicken liver being the best bait. The Eyler family, from Elm Springs, caught 6 catfish totaling 41 pounds. On trotlines in one night. Bluegill are biting well, with most being caught on redworms fished 2 to 3 feet deep under a bobber. The bait shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
(Updated on 10-21-2015) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is at normal level. Bream and crappie fishing have both been poor. Bass have been slow, but a few have been caught on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is about 6 inches low and clear. The surface water temperature is 69 degrees. Bream are biting well along the bank on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 8 feet of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on shad and chicken livers.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Lake Poinsett State Park said anglers are still catching some bream and calling for crickets at the bait shop. Some bass and crappie have been caught as well, but the best bite lately has been for catfish.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said no one has been to the lake or marina lately. No report.
(Updated 9-30-2015) Lake Frierson State Park said water levels are slightly below normal pool, but recent rains may bring it back up. Channel catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and dip baits fished under a float at varying depths. Blue catfish are slow with a few caught on cut bait. Bass are fair with good periods early and late as the fish are still chasing shad. Minnow-imitating lures fished around and on top of schooling shad are producing some fish. Bream are still being caught on crickets and small worms all around the shoreline. The bigger fish are still a little further out and deeper. No report on saugeye or crappie. Cooling temperatures should get fish feeding and stir up the saugeye. Crankbaits and other minnow imitators should be more and more effective for saugeye and bass as the weather cools.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Mark Crawford with
Spring River Flies and Guides said the river is running at 280 cfs at the spring and water clarity has been clear. Leaves are beginning to change and the river is looking great. The fishing has been slow. Trout from Norfork are scheduled to be stocked this week. Nymphs and Y2K’s have been hot this week. There have been a lot of Tricos hatching the last few weeks, so a simple gray hackle fly on a size 14 nymph hook has worked well. Hot pink and white Trout Magnets are working well also.
(Updated 10-14-2015) 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 10-21-2015) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is too high for good fishing right now. The Army Corps of Engineers is trying to get water out of Bull Shoals, so it’s flowing through the whole system downstream.
(Updated 10-14-2015) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team said water temperatures are in the low 70s and falling. The algae bloom is still in place, but it is clearing. Visibility is about the same in the main channel as it is in Lake Langhofer – about 1 to 2 feet. Black bass have started coming off their summer locations to move shallow. Topwaters, spinnerbaits and crankbaits up shallow in the morning and finesse worms and jigs the rest of the day should get you bites. The key this time of year is the obvious presence of baitfish.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said crappie are biting well on shiners and chartreuse crappie jigs. The bass are doing great in the mornings on topwater plugs and spinnerbaits.
Lake Chicot State Park had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.31 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.20 msl).
(Updated 10-21-2015) Mike Siefert at
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level is slightly above normal conservation pool and steady. There is only light current in Little River with the gates releasing 172 CFS as of Monday. Surface water temperatures ranges from 67 to 75 degrees, depending on location. Water clarity ranges from 15 to 25 inches away from current. Little River above McGuire remains stained but improving. Clarity in the oxbows currently runs anywhere from 20 to 40 inches. Bass have been excellent at dawn around shallow vegetation on frogs, Bass Assassin Shads, buzzbaits, and shallow jerk baits. Later in the heat of the afternoon, Largemouth bass are best on crankbaits, squarebills, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits around vegetation, cover and 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 small cranks with best colors over the past couple weeks being chartreuse, white, Millwood Magic, or chrome/blue. Zoom trick worms, wacky rigged in watermelon-red flake, are working as well around isolated stumps, cypress trees and vegetation. Smithwick Rouges, YUM Dingers, trick worms, and Salty Rat Tails continue taking nice bass this week. War Eagle spinnerbaits in coleslaw, spot remover and firetiger continue taking a few random fish holed up deep in vegetation and grass patches. Chatterbaits in white/chartreuse continue working as well around deeper vegetation. Rat-L- Traps and Echo 1.75 squarebill crankbaits are working around deeper drops into the creek channels from 5-8 feet. The best Rat-L-Trap colors are Transparent in clear water of the oxbows, and Fathead Minnow or Oxbow for the stained sections of the creek mouths dumping into Little River. Ghost Minnow, Sexy West or Sexy Chrome and Millwood Magic seem to draw best reactions in the Echo 1.75 squarebills. White bass and hybrids seemed to respond to the drop in water temperature of Little River, and were forcing shad to the surface along Little River. They are beginning to venture upriver and several large schools have been found over the past few days feeding heavily on shad pods. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, chrome/blue, and transparent are working for these schools of white bass equally as well as crankbaits and Echo 1.75 Squarebills in Oxbow, Chartreuse Shiner, and Millwood Magic color patterns. Crappie improved on planted brush now that the clarity is getting better, and current reduced in Little River. Cordell smoke, paddle tail grubs on light wire jig head and small hair jigs in white/chartreuse were working this week in 10 to 12 feet of water over planted brush piles. Blue catfish and channel cats continue biting well in Little River on yo-yo's and trot lines using chicken livers, hot dogs and stink bait set 8-11 feet deep. Live shiners on the yo-yo's set under cypress trees in backs of the oxbows in 8-9 feet of water also is working well for catfish.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 538.72 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).
(Updated 10-7-2015) Gary Lammers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said surface temperature is 78 to 80 degrees. The water is clear throughout the lake. Spotted bass are on main lake points and are hitting finesse worms and live crawfish in 15 to 20 feet of water. Largemouth bass are hitting white spinnerbaits along rocky points and shallow brush piles and buzzbaits in the shallows early in the morning and late in the afternoon. White bass are schooling early and late and are hitting CC spoons and shad-colored crankbaits.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 395.66 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
(Updated 10-21-2015) Local angler George Graves had no report.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park (870-685-2748) said bass are fair, but can be picked up early in the mornings and late in the evenings on flukes, spinnerbaits and brush hogs. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good using trotlines baited with live bait and using tight lines with worms and prepared catfish baits. No report on crappie.
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 10-14-2015) Buddy Ham at Sportsman's One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) said bass are biting well on spinnerbaits in the shallows. Crappie are biting fairly well on jigs and shiners. A few catfish are being picked up in the river. Bream are slow.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Buddy Ham at Sportsman's One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) said bass and crappie are picking up. Bass are fair on lipless crankbaits. No report on catfish or bream.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said some good largemouth have been caught lately in the mornings. Anglers are keeping it quiet about lures, but there have been some regular catches of good fish.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 342.04 feet msl (full pool – 342 msl).
(Updated 10-21-2015) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said the water is very low. Three or four weeks ago, anglers were doing very well, but there haven’t been many anglers at the lake lately with the lower conditions. A little rain may help things.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are fair on minnows, Bobby Garland Baby Shads and 1.25-inch Itty Bit Swim’rs in deep water. The best colors are Cajun cricket, BBQ chicken, blue ice, monkey milk and penny back. Catfishing is good on shad, minnows and worms. Bream are fair on crickets and worms.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said water temperature is in the low 80s to upper 70s. The water clarity is good upriver, fair around Shoal Bay and poor on the downriver portion of the lake. Bass fishing is slow from dam to dam. Bass are scattered, some in lily pads, some on rocks and some on wood. The bigger bite seems to be on wood this week. The early morning topwater bite has been good on buzzbaits, frogs, poppers, prop baits and Spooks. The afternoon bite is good on large worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatterbiats and jigs. Striped bass have been biting well on topwater poppers, swim baits and jerk baits below the dam on jetties with current and at the heads in creeks. Around 2 p.m. seems to be the best time if there is current. The bite picks back up just before dark. White bass are schooling at mid-river, and will bite well on Rebel Pop-R’s, tailspinners and spoons. Bream have been excellent all along the river and backwater, with many being schooled up on the surface. Worms, crickets and flies all work well. Catfish have improved this week with blues being caught in the main river channel on cut perch and shad. Channel catfish have been caught behind the jetties on worms. Large minnows have been working well on flathead catfish.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.42 feet msl (full pool – 384 msl).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 568.07 feet msl (full pool – 578 msl).
(Updated 10-21-2015) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and the surface water temperature is 66 to 70 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting very well on topwater lures and spy baits on points near structure. Drop-shot rigs baited with finesse worms or live crayfish are producing some good quality spotted bass near brush. Walleye are fair on ¾-oz. jigging spoons near structure. Stripers are fair on live bait and hair jigs near main lake points and humps. Bream are fair on worms, grubs and crickets near brush in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are biting very well on small spoons, minnows and crappie jigs fished around brush in 20 to 30 feet of water. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers, cut bait and stink bait.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Tom Duke and Phillip Kastner with
Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports Fishing Report in Hot Springs said there are a lot of shad in the creeks. The live crawfish bite is going strong for spotted bass. Bottom-bouncing a nightcrawler will catch walleye and spotted bass as well.
(Updated 10-14-2015) Tom Duke and Phillip Kastner with
Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports Fishing Report in Hot Springs said shad are moving into the creeks. The drawdown for Lake Hamilton is right around the corner. When it drops, be sure to carry a ½-oz. crayfish colored jig, small white spinnerbait and small crayfish-colored crankbait. The water level drop will expose a lot of crayfish, and the bass will be ready to feed. Fish along any exposed rocky banks with these three lures and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best fishing of the year.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Darryl Morris at
Family Fishing Trips said threadfin shad seem to be everywhere. White, yellow and black bass are feeding on the small threadfins. Casting or vertically jigging small silver spoons is working best. Trolling shad-colored crankbaits is doing the job also.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 67 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has scheduled a minimum flow pattern which releases water every few days as needed to maintain lake levels. The annual winter drawdown begins for both lakes Hamilton and Catherine on Nov. 7 and ends Nov. 15. A 5-foot draw is planned with each lake refilled to summertime pool in early March 2016. Rainbow trout stocking begins in November with fish present in the tailrace the week of Thanksgiving. The trout are gone and very few shad are present to attract gamefish. However, white bass have been observed schooling below the bridge with fair numbers in the 2-pound range. Jerk baits and ¼-ounce white jigs are the baits of choice as these fish are chasing available shad and will attack an artificial lure that resembles an injured minnow. Hybrid and striper action is very slow below the dam with zero topwater action observed. Trout stocking in November will bring good numbers of hybrid and striped bass to the area to feed. C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks in rainbow trout colors will draw vicious strikes from these aggressive predators. A few catfish have been hooked in the 10-pound class at night below the bridge in the main channel using cut shad. The deepest water holds catfish most of the year with large numbers of these fish spawning in June. Goldfish and gizzard shad are excellent choices when targeting large catfish. As the drawdown approaches, a regular flow of water from the dam will bring shad close to the dam, which will help the fishing.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said the bass are moving up and hitting crankbaits and topwater baits off points. Bream have slowed down with the cooler weather. Crappie are biting well on minnows trolled slowly in deep water. Mississippi River State Park is hosting a kayak tour at Bear Creek Lake on Saturday, October 31st. To sign up please call Mississippi River State Park at (870) 295-4040.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said the bream are slow. Crappie have picked up and are biting well on live minnows. Bass also are biting well lately on crankbaits. Catfishing is slow.
(Updated 10-21-2015) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is high and stained. Bream are fair, with a few being caught on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms near the main channel. Catfishing is good close to the river. Overall the fishing is slower than normal, but if you can find the right lake in the system, you can catch them.
