(Updated 8-6-2014) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bream are excellent on worms and crickets around lily pads near the shore. Catfishing is excellent on trotlines and yo-yos baited with large minnows and goldfish. Bass are biting well on topwater frogs, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits around lily pad fields. Crappie fishign is fair on minnows and jigs around deeper cypress trees.

(Updated 7-15-2014) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said all species are fair at best.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the river is low and at fairly clear. Trout are biting very well on nightcrawlers, wax worms with marshmallows and Power Bait.

(Updated 8-6-2014) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ’em All Guide Service said we continue to see a summer generation schedule with late afternoon/early evening generation. The upper river is wadable during the mornings and the lower river is accessible in the afternoons. Midges, Blue-winged olives, pheasant tails, hares ears, soft hackles, and sowbugs are producing successful trips. Mealworm- and hot pink-colored bodies on gold and black jig heads are working well for Trout Magnet fishing. Fluorocarbon tippet is almost a must in low clear water when fly and Trout Magnet fishing. 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 459.27 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).

(Updated 8-13-2014) Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is 3.25 feet below normal pool and falling. The surface water temperature is in the low 80s. Bass fishing is slow, as some are shallow, chasing bream, and some are holding around floating docks and deep docks over 50 feet of water. Small crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, swim baits and football head jigs are all working. Bream have bedded again and are guarding fry. They'll hit small crankbaits, crickets and crawlers up shallow. Crappie are biting fairly well around 15-25 feet on jigs and minnows. Hybrids and white bass are eating throughout the day from 25-50 feet of water on spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits ,just stay with the shad. No report on catfish or walleye.

(Updated 8-6-2014) Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Fishing (501-253-1905) said Greers Ferry Lake remains close to normal pool with water temperatures at 82-84 degrees. As with last year, the shad are small and not much surface activity is occurring from the white and hybrid bass population. Finding schools of shad with sonar is difficult due to their small size. Main lake points, drop-offs, creek and river channels, and standing timber in 40-75 feet of water are holding fish during the day, with fish moving to shallower flats at dark. Suspended fish can be found in the river channel from 25-50 feet deep in 70-80 feet of water. Nice catches of crappie can made trolling over standing timber with jigs or crankbaits.

(Updated 7-30-2014) Cody Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said water surface temperatures are ranging from 79 to 84 degrees. With moderate summer temperatures our fish are well ahead of pace for the early fall bite. Many baitfish are still only halfway to a third of the way out of the creeks and tributaries. Looking at the extended forecast, I don't believe they are ever going to make it out on the main lake in earnest. Some fish are in the brush feeding on bluegills and crawfish while others are suspended and hanging in pole timber and structure breaks adjacent to the bulk of our shad. Live bait offerings with a vertical presentation are working well with the suspended fish.  Glitter Spinners and small swim baits are producing.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at normal level. Catfish are biting excellently on chicken livers. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are biting well on worms, crickets and Rock Hopper jigs. Crappie are fair to good in deep water. Bass are chasing shad and are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair to good on worms, minnows and stinkbait. 

(Updated 6-4-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.

(Updated 7-15-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream fishing is good. All other species are slow.

(Updated 8-6-2014) Jan Johnson at Brewer Lake Bait Shop (501-354-4108) said normal water level and the cooler weather have improved fishing. Crappie are excellent on minnows at 8 to 12 feet deep. Bass are still in deep water and hitting dark colored plastics and live minnows. Channel cats are very good on jugs baited with stink bait; flathead and blue catfish are fair on bream, goldfish and large shiners. Bream are still small but are biting well in 2 to 4 feet of water on crickets and worms. 

(Updated 6-4-2014) Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.

(Updated 7-15-2014) Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water temperature is 86 degrees and the water level is even with the spillway. Largemouth bass are excellent in 5 to 10 feet of water around the grass. They are hitting on black/red spinnerbaits, floating worms and topwater baits. The Tuesday night tournaments continue to have great weights, with almost everyone coming in with limits. Spotted bass are excellent on jigs fished in the same places as the largemouths. White bass are biting well at the west end of the lake on Rooster Tails, crappie jigs and clear topwater lures. There has been a lot of schooling activity and fish caught trolling. Crappie are good in 10 to 15 feet of water. They're still not as good as last year but are improving; try using minnows. Bream are excellent around brush in 10 to 15 feet of water on  crickets and live worms. Many catfish are being caught on trotlines bated with small bream.

(Updated 7-15-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are excellent on redworms fished 10 to 12 feet deep. Crappie are excellent on medium-sized minnows in 12 to 18 feet of water. Bass are fair on shallow-diving crankbaits, Texas-rigged creature baits and spinnerbaits early in the morning and late in the evening. No report on catfish. 

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream have been biting crickets. Catfish are slow, but some have been biting chicken livers and nightcrawlers. No reports of bass or crappie being caught.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said fishing has been slow to fair overall. Catfish have been biting chicken liver and bait shrimp. Bream have been hitting crickets and redworms. Bass and crappie have been slow, but a few have been caught on minnows.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfish have been biting minnows, goldfish and black salties on trotlines and limb lines. Bass are biting live minnows, small Texas-rigged plastics and small crankbaits. Bream on the river will almost always bite a cricket or worm presented on a small hook and light line. Crappie fishing has been slow.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said catfish have been biting black salties and brood minnows on jugs and trotlines. Bream are biting crickets and redworms. Bass fishing has been pretty good with plastic worms and lizards and shallow-running crankbaits early in the mornings. No recent reports of crappie being caught.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) said bream fishing has been good with crickets and redworms. Bass are biting minnows and small topwater baits early and late in the day. Catfish have been biting fairly well on chicken livers, nightcrawlers and bait shrimp. Some small crappie have been biting pink minnows.

(Updated 7-30-2014) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said fishing is very good overall. Drift fishing is the way to go for catfish. Shad and nightcrawlers are the best bets around jetty tips and below dams nine and 10. White bass are biting very well on jetty tips around Point Remove Creek, Coppers Gap and Flagg Lake Cutoff on shad-colored crankbaits. Bream are biting very well in the backwater around overhangs on crickets. Largemouth bass are biting well on black Jitterbugs in the mornings and on green pumpkin tubes fished around the grasslines in 4 to 10 feet of water.

 

​(Updated 8-13-2014) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said some bass are being caught in the creek, especially around lily pads and vegetation, early in the morning and late in the evening. No report on any other species.

​(Updated 7-30-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are fair on redworms and crickets in the Little Maumelle, but they are excellent on crickets and redworms up Palarm Creek where you can find any brush and grass. Crappie are excellent up the Maumelle River on minnows and red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits, black/blue jigs and Senkos fished around the Little Maumelle. Catfishing is fair on chicken hearts, livers and shad. 

(Updated 8-6-2014) Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said bass are biting well on black/blue jigs and spinnerbaits fished around the Maumelle River. Drop-shot rigs and Carolina rigs are working around bridges near the river as well.

​(Updated 8-6-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said white bass are excellent on large minnows and white/chartreuse jigs below Murray Lock and Dam. Catfish are biting very well below the dam on nightcrawlers, skipjack and shad.  

(Updated 8-6-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said catfishing has been good below Terry Lock and Dam on worms and cut bait. 

(Updated 8-6-2014) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said crappie fishing is very slow. Bream are fair on worms. 

(Updated 8-13-2014) Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the lake is clear and at normal level. The lake is perfect for fishing. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfishing is excellent on chicken livers. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. No report on crappie.

​(Updated 7-30-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfishing is fair on chicken livers, minnows and green sunfish. 

​(Updated 7-15-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.

​(Updated 7-30-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bass are excellent on trick worms and Rebel Creature cranks. Catfishing is excellent on chicken hearts, minnows and nightcrawlers. Bream are fair around the piers on redworms and crickets. 

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 658.72 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659 msl).

(Updated 7-30-2014) Ken Minsky of Ken Minksy's Loch Leven Guide Service said the water in the mid-lake area has warmed to 84 degrees on the surface, with a well defined thermocline established at the 30-foot level, and the fish are very much relating to it. Shad remain scarce; however, there have been a few sightings of small schools of small shad near the mouths of larger creek arms. Concentrate your efforts in the early mornings and evenings fishing deep structure near primary points. Crappie, walleye and catfish can all be found at 35 to 55 foot level over cribs and standing timber in 60 to 100 feet of water. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are making a showing in shallower water near brushy shoreline structure and points in the mornings and evenings, providing it has immediate access to deep water. Spotted bass are holding near bottom at the 55-foot range near the sides of primary points.  

(Updated 8-13-2014) Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock saidot Much has changed in the past month since my last fishing report. The lake is around the 659 level and dropping slowly. The water temperature at the surface is in the 80's around the lake. The thermocline is down around the 30-35 foot level depending on where you go in the lake. The visibility is still great on the main lake. The fishing hasn't changed much since last report except the fish seem to be a little deeper in the day. Most of the reports say they are in the 30 to 35 to 40 foot level just past the thermocline. That is where they are usually are this time of year. You might be able to catch some of them shallow early as the sun rises or late as the sun sets. But the other times of the day you would need to fish deeper . this goes for most species of fish. I have seen largemouth bass hang shallow all day if they have some type of crock ledge, brush or cover to get in. Especially if they are trying to eat bluegill which can also be shallow all day. The smallmouth and spotted bass usually like the cooler non sun water. The walleye are rarely shallow this time of the year due to the water temperature. They need cooler water to survive in. Most of the reports I have gotten are that they are in the 35 to 40 foot range.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Newland's Resort below Bull Shoals said water conditions are trending toward low flows in the mornings, and high flows in the afternoons, except for Sunday (which had low water all day). Popular baits have been shad, sculpins, pink artificial worms, Rapalas and Little Cleos. Visit the Projected water flow page and live web cam at Newland's web site.  (Updated 8-6-2014) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and low in the mornings and high in the afternoons. On low water, fish pink Power Worms, and Power Bait. On high  water, switch to small Rattling Rogues and Rapalas for a chance at a good brown trout. 

(Updated 8-13-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has been significant generation in the afternoons and limited wadable water in the mornings. The hot spot was Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers, Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, ruby midges, pink and cerise San Juan worms, and sowbugs. Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (try a flashback beadhead pheasant tail nymph with a ruby midge or red fan tail midge suspended below it). It’s grasshopper time! There is a bumper crop of them this year and the trout are already keying in on them. Favorite hopper imitators are Dave’s hoppers and the western foam varieties. Use a dropper with a size 16 flashback pheasant tail to increase hook ups.

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.43 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 553.75 msl, April-September – 556.75 msl).

(Updated 8-13-2014) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said Norfork Lake is dropping but still in the normal pool range for the summer. The water temperature is in the low-80s. The water visibility is stained. Stripers and hybrids are still feeding on crawdads and shad. The striper bite continues to be best before 5 a.m. in 35 to 40 feet of water on the flats near the dam and mouths of creeks. Stripers are starting to school near the dam. After first light the stripers are moving deeper. Look for them in 50 to 100 feet of water at the 40-foot level. Live shad is still the most effective method to catch a striper, but stripers are being caught trolling using swim baits, umbrella and Alabama rigs. If you find a school of stripers drop a spoon, they will hit it if correctly presented. Look at Point 1, Barron, Dam Cove, Koso, Thumb Point and the Backbone.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said fishing has been slightly different from normal summers. The fish are just now in their early summer pattern. We are still finding stripers and hybrids starting around the 62 Bridge and Robinson flat area all the way down to the dam. All species are still shallower than normal, which is good. I have been fishing the Robinson Point flat area and the dam area catching hybrids and stripers from 38-50 feet of water sitting on the bottom. Today I fished in the dam area and the fish erupted all around me. Big whites and medium to small size stripers were flying out of the water chasing small shad. I also spooned up several stripers in 48 feet of water on the bottom. While spooning I noticed that the fish were not hitting the spoon on the jerk up or the fall, so I started letting it sit on the bottom and twitch it a little. I could feel a light bite then would set the hook. If you are live bait fisherman get out on the lake by 4:30 a.m. as the bite is really strong in the dark. Spooning for stripers is just starting to take off so have a spoon ready to vertical jig. Crappie fishing has been good, which is very unusual for this time of year. They are still sitting in brush that is at the 30 feet level. Also you can find them under docks especially if the dock has brush under it. My dock is just stacked with them, 4 - 6 feet down. Live minnows are working very well as are small jigs tipped with a minnow. Catfish are also being caught on jugs, trotlines and pole fishing. Flatheads are hitting the best. You will find them around brush in 30 feet of water during the day and in the shallow water feeding at night. White bass are starting to school. You can find some good top water action early in the morning or at sunset. This action can be found at all ends of the lake. Black bass are hanging out around the 30 foot deep brush as well as along the deep bluff lines. You will find them on the bottom or suspended 30 down. Early and late in the day they will be up closer to the shore line in shallow water feeding. There is also a good topwater bite early and late in the day. Check back in the major creeks.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature has dropped a few degrees into the low 80s. Look for the stripers and hybrids down at least 35 feet deep. Whatever bait you choose (live or artificial) to use get your bait down to them or just a foot above the fish. There have been a few stripers coming up chasing bait but they are smaller fish. They are still a lot of fun on topwater. Bass are coming up early and just before dark chasing baitfish also. They have been hitting a white or clear Zara Spook Jr., If they are not surfacing, throw a worm or jig to the bank and work it slowly back to the boat or try dropping a jigging spoon if you see them on your depthfinder under the boat. Look for crappie in the deeper brush piles.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there’s been wadable water every day on the Norfork, but it has fished poorly because of increased angling pressure. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles like the green butt. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead headed nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended eighteen inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). 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.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear but still navigable. With the warmer weather, the smallmouth are active. The most effective flies are Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. 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 8-13-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are low and clear but still navigable. With the warmer weather, the smallmouth are active. The most effective flies are Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. 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 1,117.45 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).

(Updated 8-6-2014) Roger Cravens of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (254-315-2927) said night fishing continues to be the best option for bass. Dark-colored crawdad-imitating soft plastics and large worms Texas-rigged or on a shaky head have worked well along sloping gravel to chunk rock banks. Bass can also be picked off early and late in the day on topwater plugs or buzz baits in and around the brush along the bank. During the day a Carolina-rigged tube, lizard or worm fished over points and flats has been effective. Monte-Ne, Prairie Creek, Big Ventris and both Clifty arms have all been good. Crappie fishing has been best early in the day. Look for them to be suspending under large docks, between timber and a bluff line and along pole timber close to a channel. Most fish have been down 15 to 20 feet over 25 to 35 feet of water. Minnows, small curly tailed grubs or tube jigs on a 1/16-oz. jighead worked slowly from the bottom up in those areas have been effective. Trolling Hot “N” Tot or Bandit crankbaits over main lake flats has also been effective. Night fishing has also been good under lights close to channel bends or bluff lines in 25 to 50 feet of water. White River, Eden Bluff, Horseshoe Bend and Monte-Ne have all been good places to fish. White bass have been biting well at night under lights on minnows or shad along bluff lines close to the channel and under the 12 bridge. During the day they can be found schooling on main lake flats and can be caught using Kastmaster spoons once a school is located. Catfish have been caught using liver or worms from the bank at 12 bridge, Monte-Ne, Hickory Creek and the 412 bridge access.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said said stripers are on the prowl for food. Early morning and the night bite have been best. Most stripers are still in the mid-section of the lake. Stripers are being caught on live shad fished 30 to 60 feet deep. They are also hitting trolled umbrella rigs with white grubs and Rapala Husky Jerks or Bomber 15As. On the mid and lower sections check out these area's. Water surface temperatures are in the low 80s. The hot spots this week have been Lost Bridge,the large gravel bar at the mouth of Indian creek, the back side of the island at Lost Bridge and in the cut between the island, points 3, 4, 5 and 6, Rocky Branch (the channel between the front of the marina and the road bed that extends to the island), Cedar Creek, Ford Creek and Goat Island at Larue. Most walleye are being caught about 5-10 feet deep on three-way rigs with a no. 11 Rapala or trolled Hot-n-Tot, Wiggle Wart, Rapala Tail Dancer or Ripstik. Slow death rigs, shakee blades and spinner rigs featuring orange and chartreuse beads are working very well on a bottom bouncers as well. Jigs with curly tails in white, chartruese, orange or black are good options as well. Check the south side of Prairie Creek, Blackburn Creek, Beaver Shores, Hickory Creek and War Eagle for concentrations of walleye.

(Updated 7-30-2014) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished around deep brush piles. Bass are fair on topwater lures and large black spinnerbaits at night and on spoons and drop-shot rigs fished deep during the day. 

(Updated 8-6-2014) Beaver Dam Store said white or pink Trout Magnets below a bobber have worked very well lately. White/yellow and pink Power Bait is getting the most good reports to the store. Use the lightest line possible. Table Rock Lake levels are still a bit high and you are able to cross the river at Cane break. The old standby midges are working well. Try a small white woolly, soft hackle or jig. With the bright sun get a disco midge or something bright colored. Nickel and gold Colorado spoons are hard to beat. PJ's jigs or micro jigs under a casting bubble are working. Outside of the special regulation area add a wax worm behind the jig.

(Updated 8-6-2014) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said fishing has slowed a bit. Catfishing is showing a little improvement. Limb lines baited with cut perch produced a 7.5-lb. blue cat last week. Chumming the area and baiting with liver brought resulted in some big fish hooked but not landed and some broken rods for three local anglers last week. Bass are biting well at night on Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. Soft-plastic worms and jigs with frog trailers are working fairly well in 10 to 15 feet of water during the day. Crappie are fair in the morning, and fishing slows to a crawl by 9 a.m. Minnows fished at 8 feet around any brush piles have worked best. Small jigs tipped with crappie nibbles will work in a pinch. Redear and bluegill slow by mid-day as well. There are still many are being caught with redworms and crickets in the mornings.

(Updated on 8-13-2014) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said there haven't been many anglers on the water this week. No report.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is high and very muddy. The only fish biting right now are teh catfish. They are biting well on goldfish, bluegill and chicken livers.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lake Manager Dennis Kruse said fishing has picked up with the best bite coming in the mornings. Bass are good early on buzzbaits and other topwater presentations; then go to spinnerbaits later in the morning. Bream are active through much of the morning, with most catches coming on crickets and worms. Good catches of catfish are coming in on both live bait and cut bait.

​(Updated 7-2-2014) Jake Knoedl at Knoedl's Outdoor Tech in Hiwasse (479-344-6131) said bass fishing has been good on brush hogs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits in 3-7 feet of water. Bluegill and redear are hitting crickets in shallow water around cover. Catfish can be caught on stink bait and chicken liver. Crappie are slow, but hitting minnows at dawn and dusk.

​(Updated 7-2-2014) Jake Knoedl at Knoedl's Outdoor Tech in Hiwasse (479-344-6131) said bluegill and redear are hitting crickets near brush in 3-10 feet of water. Bass fishing has been good on topwater lures and Texas-rigged worms. Catfishing has been good on nightcrawlers, small bluegill and chicken liver.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Lake Poinsett State Park said there have been many boats on Poinsett lately. Crickets and redworms are still the baits of choice for the bream. Several nice catfish have been caught lately on nightcrawlers and stink bait. Some flatheads have been caught on trotlines baited with goldfish.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said bream are biting well on redworms and crickets. Bass are biting well early in the morning and late in the evening on topwater lures. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers. .

(Updated 8-6-2014) Lake Frierson State Park said water levels continue to drop, exposing more timber and stumps. Bream have been good on crickets, redworms and pieces of nightcrawlers. Channel catfish have been poor to good on dip baits and nightcrawlers fished in deeper water near the dam. There is a lot of surface activity early and late, with few anglers on the water to report. Topwaters early and late should produce bass this time of year. Follow the schooling shad. No report of crappie, saugeye or flatheads.

The renovation of Dam No. 3 on the Spring River is underway.  Accesses at Lassiters, Cold Spring and Bayou are available for the Spring River, and anglers may have better success launching at these places during heavy traffic periods.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are low and clear. We still have not had any rain over the last week. Hot flies have been Guppies and Y2Ks. Little Cleos and hot pink Trout Magnets have been hot for spin fishing.

(Updated 8-6-2014) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team had no report.

(Updated 8-6-2014) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said crappie are biting well. The last cold front turned them on, and they were biting minnows and artificial baits well. Bass are slow on topwater lures at the edge of lily pads. Bream are biting well at the edge of shallow water bedding areas. No report on catfish. 

(Updated 8-6-2014) Geoff Wright at Lake Chicot State Park said Lake Chicot is dropping pretty quickly from the drawdown. At least 2 feet has been drained in most areas, meaning the shoreline is much farther out than when the lake is at normal level. That being said, fish are still being caught. We have heard of bream catches in the 20-25 range and have seen some very large catfish caught with cut shad on noodles or jugs.

Lake Chicot is currently undergoing a drawdown that  will continue through Jan. 1, 2015, to mimic natural low water years necessary to keep production levels high. Click here for more information about the drawdown, 




As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.71 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.60 msl).

(Updated 8-13-2014) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level remains 12 inches above normal conservation pool and is falling. There is increased current in Little River with the gates releasing around 1,200 CFS Monday. Surface water temperature ranges anywhere from 77 to 90 degrees, depending on location, rainfall and time of day. Water clarity is much worse than the last few weeks, with most areas on the main lake having 3 to 5 inches of visibility. Cottonshed and the northeast section of the lake are muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 2-5 inches depending on location and current. Bass are biting well on buzzbaits, Moss Bosses, plastic frogs, and Bass Assassins early and late around lily pads and vegetation adjacent to deeper sections of the creek channels in clearest water you can find away from heavy current. Johnson chrome spoons with curly tail grub trailers are taking some good fish in the lily pads as well. Bass Assassin Shads in Chartreuse Pepper Shad or Black Shad continue working best in the heavy stained or muddy water, and Watermelon - red flake colors continue working around any semi-clear water and vegetation. Rat-L-Traps and cranks continue working along vegetation growth and weed lines near deep water drops. Four0inch tubes and Berkley Craw Fattys in black neon, black/blue or grasshopper colors are working in the heavy stain and colored water away from river current this week. White bass continue roaming the oxbows and hitting Tennessee shad- or citrus shad-colored crankbaits in the backs of the oxbows. Several days over the past 3-4 weeks, the Whites were surface breaking on shad in back of Horseshoe and McGuire oxbows, but have not been seen surface breaking this week with the increase in stained water. Crappie disappeared with all the high current and muddy water in Little River. Blue catfish and channel cats remain good this week in the increased current of Little River on trotlines set 6-9 feet deep in creek mouths and outer bends of the river. Best trotline baits continue to be chicken livers, cut shad and buffalo.

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 547.32 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).

(Updated 7-30-2014) Kevin Patrick at www.actionfishingtrips.com said crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around brush in 20 to 25 feet of water. The crappie are holding at 10 to 18 feet deep around the cover.

Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 403.81 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).

(Updated 8-13-2014) Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the low 80s and the lake is clear throughout. Ffishing is pretty slow due to the changing weather patterns. Bass fishing is fair and probably the best bet right now. Look for surface activity in the early morning along the south side between the dam and the mouth of Brushy Creek. The best action will be on the secondary points in the big coves. Throw topwaters such as a Zara Spook, Sammy, Fluke, Rapala Minnow or a 3-inch swim bait. Color is not too important on topwaters, but be sure to get the lure as close as possible to the breaking fish. If nothing is on the surface, try a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard across the same points. Red shad and green pumpkin are good colors to start with. Sometimes a deep-running crankbait in natural shad is hard to beat. Hybrids are still pretty much a "no show" with very little schooling activity. The fish are scattered from the dam to Caddo Bend and just are not feeding much. A few fish were reported in the big coves along the State Park early in the morning. Try a big in-line spinner fished about 20 feet down. Bream fishing is good for small fish up shallow. Some nice redears are showing off secondary points in 15 to 25 feet of water. Tightline a redworm on or close to the bottom. When you catch one, throw the buoy because they are in schools. Look for fish around Caddo Drive and Arlie Moore. Catfish are fair early in the morning in the coves on the south side between points 2 and 4. Drop a live bream or big minnow next to the deep standing timber at first light. Some big fish are coming from these areas.

(Updated 7-30-2014) Jaret Rushing said fishing in the smaller oxbows has been very sporadic  due to changing weather patterns and rainfall. Anglers are catching bass in channels of incoming water when the Ouachita River is on the rise. However, something to be wary of is to watch for coloration changes in the water as that will be a significant predictor of where fish will be.  Anglers should try to stay on the upstream side of all water clarity changes and throw baits resembling shad/minnows as bass are still in summer staging patterns and tend to feed on shad in suspended water and crawdads in shallow waters. Anglers are still finding bream beds, but they are scarce and the size of the bream being caught has started to decrease.

(Updated 7-30-2014) Jaret Rushing said with the sporadic weather patterns, bass anglers should focus on deeper channels running along the rock/sand bank on the south side of the lake.  Reports are that some larger bass are being caught in these channels towards the end of the day and at night on black/blue crankbaits and topwaters. Crappie fishermen have reported that after 10 a.m. or so, their luck has basically been shot.  So, crappie anglers should set their alarms and get on the lake early in the morning. Spider rigs tend to be working well rigged with black/chartreuse soft-plastic jigs and blue/white hair jigs.

(Updated 7-30-2014) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park (870-685-2748) said in the lower lake, the daily catfish limit is five and the daily bream limit is 50. All other species are catch and release only in the lower lake. Bass are biting well on flukes, spinnerbaits and topwater lures around vegetation. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms early in the mornings and late in the evenings, but the higher water has made it difficult to find them. Keep moving and you'll run across the bream. Catfishing is good on trotlines bated with soap and on tightlines baited with nightcrawlers and crickets. In the upper lake, bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfish are biting well on soap. Bass are biting well on flukes, topwater lures and spinnerbaits fished around vegetation.

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 345.25 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl). 

The Corps of Engineers has closed all swim beaches at Nimrod until further notice. Fishing and camping remain open. 

(Updated 8-13-2014) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said bream crappie and catfishing are all excellent. Bream are biting crickets, and the occasional worm. Catfishing is best on chicken livers, bass minnows and stink bait. Bass are hitting best on soft-plastics and crankbaits fished near deep drops.  

(Updated 8-13-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well in 10 to 14 feet of water on trolled crankbaits and on slow-trolled minnows and jigs.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are excellent. Bass are chasing shad and are biting excellently on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms. 

(Updated 8-13-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the water is high and stained. Bream are biting well, but you have to do a lot of looking to find the beds. Crappie are slow. White bass are biting well on dark-colored spinnerbaits and flukes. Catfishing is good on worms, stink bait and minnows.

Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said water temperature is 86 degrees. Water clarity is about 3 feet of visibility upriver, dropping to 2 feet in the lower section with some very muddy areas in the creeks and backwaters. The bite has picked up on topwater prop baits, crankbaits and jigs around rocks in 6 to 10 feet of water upriver. Stripers have also picked up on the ends of the jetties, biting crankbaits swimbaits and topwater walking baits. The best times seem to be from 5 in the afternoon until dark. In the midsection of the lake, bass have picked up on worms, jigs and crankbaits fished around the headwaters of the creeks and on frogs and jigs fished around vegetation. In the lower section near the state park, look for humps and drops in 10 to 15 feet of water with brush and fish crankbaits, swimbaits and worms. Night fishing is excellent on black spinnerbaits and frogs. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished 8 to 12 feet deep around brush. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms near rocks with grass in the main river. Catfish have been good in creeks on worms and dead minnows. In the river, catfish are holding near the mouths of creeks and are biting well on live bream and cut bait fished around jetties and large boulders near creek mouths.

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 387.04 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).

(Updated 8-13-2014) Jeremy Wells at the Blue Mountain Lake Project Office said crappie are still being caught in 10-25 feet of water mostly along the river channel around structure using minnows and various colored jigs. Bream are being caught using worms and crickets in the shallows and in some deeper water. A few catfish are being caught on livers, worms and perch.

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 574.75 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).

(Updated 7-15-2014) Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs  said the surface water temperature is in the 80s and the lake is at full pool. Black bass are being caught on topwater along timber lines in creek chanel swings. Try a Spook or any other walking-type topwater lure. Many people are catching bass in 12 to 16 feet of water on a Texas-rigged or jighead worm. Bream are still biting on the bottom in 5 to 8 feet of water in the guts of pockets.   

(Updated 7-30-2014) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and 85 to 88 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well on Zara Spooks, chuggers and Pop-R’s. Texas-rigged worms and drop-shot worms also are working to produce some quality catches right now. Walleye are biting very well on trolled crankbaits, drop-shotted nightcrawlers or bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers near main lake points and structure. Stripers are biting well on live shad and jigging spoons fished around main lake points and humps. Bream are still biting well on and around brush in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on jigs and minnows fished in brush 15 to 20 feet deep. Catfishing is very good in the large bays and major creek basins on live and prepared bait.

(Updated 7-15-2014) Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs  said the surface water temperature is in the 80s and the lake is full. The water color is stained to clear from the rains and is clearing slowly. Black bass are being caught on topwater early in the mornings. Try a chugger or a buzzbait around the boat docks. A Texas-rigged worm is also a good option, try brush piles in 8 to 12 feet of water. Bream are good on crickets and worms fished near the bottom.

For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro.

(Updated 8-13-2014) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 58 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Entergy is running 16-hour generation periods each day keeping temperatures low and providing an oxygenated water supply for all area fish. Very small numbers of rainbow trout are living in the tailrace with the majority of fish caught or moved away from the dam. Live bait presentations are a must as artificial lures are largely ignored. Rainbows as large as 21 inches have been caught and released this past week by area guides. Threadfin shad are migrating in and out  of the tailrace attracting small numbers of white bass and walleye. These fish are always present close to the dam in the summer and can be caught on small, 1/16-oz or 1/8-oz. gray or white jigs. Trolling shallow running crankbaits below the dam has produced some walleye in the 4-pound range in the late evening while the turbines are running. Large stripers have been seen chasing shad in the evening below the bridge in the main channel. Fish over 30 pounds have been observed and hooked by experienced fishermen. Gizzard shad or brood minnows fished with a balloon rig offer the best chance for success. Alabama rigs are an excellent artifical lure to cast toward feeding fish and over deep channels below the bridge. Freshwater drum frequent the shallows near the dam in August and feed on crawfish and shad around sand bars.

​(Updated 8-6-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) said Bream are biting well around the docks. Catfishing is good on shad and cut bait on jugs and limb lines. 

 

​(Updated 8-6-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) said crappie are biting well in most of the oxbows in 7 to 8 feet of water on minnows and jigs slow-trolled around channel edges. 

​(Updated 8-6-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) said bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs slow-trolled on spider rigs near the middle of the lake. Some small bass have been caught by trollers as well. 

​(Updated 7-30-2014) Big River Marine Xpress, Excel and Alweld dealer (870-635-0202) had no report.

(Updated 7-30-2014) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report. 

(Updated 8-13-2014) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said fishing is slow for all species.