(Updated 10-7-2015) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and about a foot low. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets about 10 feet from the shoreline. Crappie are fair on minnows and white/chartreuse jigs around the Highway 89 Bridge and in Caney Creek about a foot and a half deep. Bass are biting well on white spinnerbaits and flukes fished around lily pads in 3 feet of water.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are beginning to move up the creeks. They are biting chartreuse jigs and rosey red minnows set 3 feet deep. Bream are off their beds and scattered 1-3 feet deep. You can catch them by covering water with a crickets or wax worm. Bass are biting fairly well on small plugs at edges of channels. Catfishing has been very good on nightcrawlers, stink bait and shiners.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ‘em All Guide Service said there is a little slow down in the amount of water release on the Little Red with a few hours of low volume afternoon generation. Hot patterns continue to be streamers, midges, blue wings and soft hackles. For Trout Magnet fishing, pink and candy cotton-colored bodies on gold and chartreuse jig heads are working well.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Greg Seaton with Little Red Fly Fishing Trips (501-690-9166) said the river remains clear and low for most of the day with afternoon generation starting about 2 p.m. Fishing remains good , but presentation and small fly selection have become more important with the clear water. Small midge pupae are a good choice of flies. Be careful motoring on the river due to the low water. Outboard lower units and props are no match for the rocks.
(Updated 10-7-2015) James Dillard at Tailwater Fishing Company (501-207-1770) said the fishing has been great, especially in the mornings. The Corps has been releasing water every afternoon for 4-5 hours. There are great wading opportunities up and down the entire river right now. The hot flies continue to be pink San Juan worms and midges. Pink Trout Magnets have been working well also.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 459.88 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).
(Updated 9-30-2015) Tommy Cauley of
Fish Finder Guide Service 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 9-16-2015) Cody Smith of
www.fishgreersferry.com said the lake is slightly below top power pool and is falling slowly with daily generation. Water surface temperatures are hovering in the upper 70s, a 7- or 8-degree swing from our high point of the year. Once surface temperatures fall another couple of degrees, look for a huge increase in surface feeding and longer feeding windows. Right now we are seeing some surfacing of white bass and hybrids every morning and late most evenings.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and a little low. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows fished around cover in 4 to 5 feet of water about 40 to 50 yards from the bank. Catfishing is still good on worms. Bream and bass are slow.
(Updated 10-7-2015) 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 and worms. White bass are biting on Cajun Spins, Johnson Silver Minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad grubs. Bream are fair on crickets and worms.
Overcup Landing had no report.
(Updated 9-30-2015) Jan Johnson at Brewer Lake Bait Shop (501-354-4108) said Conway Corporation reports the lake level at 325.9 msl (normal pool level is 330.0 msl). Crappie fishing is very good early in the mornings and late afternoons on live minnows, jigs and crankbaits fished 13 to 14 feet deep in 20 feet of water. Catfishing is fair at night using nightcrawlers, large minnows, shad and bream. Bass and bream are slow.
(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 10-7-2015) River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the water is a little high and clear. Crappie are biting well on minnows in 5 to 6 feet of water along the edges of the channel. Bass are biting very well along lily pads and the edges of vegetation in 3 to 4 feet of water on just about any lure you have confidence in. Catfishing is good on trotlines and chicken livers. No report on white bass in the Maumelle River, but they are being caught in the Arkansas River.
(Updated 10-7-2015) The folks at
Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is low. The surface water temperature is around 70 degrees. Buzzbaits fished in shallow water and around jetties has worked to catch a few bass. Crappie are slow, but starting to pick up. Catfish and bream both slowed this week.
(Updated 10-7-2015) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bass are biting well around rock jetties. Catfishing is good around the dam on cut bait. No report on bream or crappie.
(Updated 10-7-2015) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and low. A few bream are biting on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well. Bass are fair. No report on catfish.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is fairly clear, for Peckerwood anyway. The water level is low and stumps are showing. Bream are fair on micro jigs. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs around channels and stumps. Bass are biting well around the stumps near the channel, too. Catfishing is excellent on hot dogs soaked in strawberry Kool-Aid and garlic.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 669.57 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 659 msl).
(Updated 9-30-2015) K Dock Marina (417-334-2880) said the lake is starting to drop around 4 inches per day. This will increase when work begins to repair Power Site Dam in early October. Surface temperatures are near 80 degrees. The water is still clear and high. Fishing has been getting better and should be excellent as the water continues to cool. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and football jigs on steep points. Buzzbaits and Spooks are working well in the early morning and evenings as well. Bass have been busting massive schools of shad, so keep a topwater ready for surface action. Walleye are fair to good on trolled blue/chrome crankbaits near the river channel. Bottom-bouncing nightcrawlers also is working well. Crappie are fair to slow. They are scattered and deep still.
(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 10-30-2015) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is crystal clear and high with eight generators turning around the clock. Rainbow trout fishing is excellent as long as you stick to high-water tactics from a boat. The fish are colored up beautifully right now.
(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 560.19 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April – 553.75 msl, April-September – 556.75 msl).
(Updated 10-7-2015) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters most of the stripers have moved away from the dam. Look at Diamond Bay, Big Creek, Robinson Point, and the waters above Cranfield. Stripers can still be found in water depths ranging from 35 to 50 feet deep. I fished Red Bank and Calamity Beach and up to Point 10 the last couple of days. I found lots of bait fish and stripers but few bites. The surface water temperature has cooled down to the low 60s, but the water temperature 2 feet below the surface is still in the 70s. As the water cools the stripers will go on a fall feeding binge and some topwater action will also occur. Stripers are now feeding heavily in the evening near Calamity Beach. I have reports they are surfacing an hour before dark and are being caught on topwater lures and spoons.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Lou Gabric of
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said Norfork Lake fishing is in transition to the fall fishing pattern. This basically means that fish can be and are at any depth in the lake. The fish will soon start to school up and feed heavily for the winter months. Over the last 3 days the largemouth and smallmouth bass have moved to the shoreline. With the lake still about 6 feet over normal pool, we still have buck brush underwater. The bass are up in this brush. I have fished several different methods for bass; top water, casting a chatterbait and casting a shallow diving crankbait. All 3 baits have produced some nice keeper size large and smallmouth bass as well as many short fish. I've been fishing the windblown main lake points as well as secondary creek and cove points. The fish are up tight to the bank. You will catch lots of bass, but most will be on the short side. Bluegill are along the shoreline near sunken brush piles in 20-30 feet of water. A couple of our guests fished yesterday afternoon and brought back a basket full of nice bluegills. Crickets are deadly. White bass can be found back in the major creeks following the shad. I haven't found any top water action lately, but the trollers are having fun. Stripers and hybrids are on the move and are starting to school. Sunday morning I was fishing a deep bluff line point and had huge schools of fish show up. I had live threadfin shad down 30 and 50 feet. I was also jigging a spoon. The live bait poles started to get hammered, but the bites were not super aggressive. I managed to land two hybrids in the 6 - 7 pound range and missed too many to admit. I had several good bites at 50 feet, but sad to say I missed all of them. I suspect the deeper fish were the stripers. These schools of fish are constantly moving so if you are in the right place at the right time you will see more fish than you know what to do with. I keep checking my normal fall haunts as these fish will eventually get more consistent on these feeding locations as the lake water temperature lowers. These fish will be at all depths from along deep water bluffs to deep flats. Top water action for striped bass and hybrid bass typically starts when the water temp gets into the 60s. The current Norfork Lake water temperature this morning was 73 - 74 degrees. It should continue to fall each day.
(Updated 9-30-2015) Guide Steve Olomon said the water level has been dropping steadily, but the lake is still about 8 feet higher than normal for this time of year. Surface water temperatures are in the upper 70s. Stripers are still 40 to 60 feet deep. Look in the bays and along the points within a few miles of the dam. With the days getting shorter and the weather cooling, stripers will start moving up shallow and spreading out in the lake. There are some bass chasing baitfish to the surface early in the mornings and just before dark. Look for some whites feeding on the surface, too. The night bite should get going in a few weeks.
(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 1,124.56 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).
(Updated 10-7-2015) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) the Everett Chevrolet Big Bass tournament is this weekend. If you see a duck decoy floating in the water and you’re not in the tournament, please leave it be. Tournament contestants who find these decoys can turn them in for a prize. Visit https://www.facebook.com/EverettChevroletBigBass to learn more about this tourney. The water is still high and the water clarity is good. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crankbaits trolled near brush piles in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bass are excellent on topwater lures early and late in the day and on spoons and drop-shotted finesse worms in 25 to 30 feet of water during the day. No report on catfish.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said the water is in the mid- to high 70s. Stripers are leaving their deep water summer haunts as the water is beginning to cool. Watch for surface activity from stripers, white bass and hybrids. Stripers are using main lake points, humps, ridges, rock piles, brush lines and ditches on their annual uplake migration. They are searching for food and are scattered throughout the lake. They will be making their way into the creek arms soon as the water temp is beginning to cool. 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. Hot spots include main lake structure sand secondary points around points 1, 3, 5 and 6. The bluff in front of the marina, the island an the smaller islands in front of Larue Cove are all producing stripers. Also check Cedar Creek, Ford Creek and Goat Island at Larue.
Striper activity is picking up around Prairie Creek and Coose Hollow, be on the lookout for topwater action. 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 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 9-30-2015) Austin Kennedy of Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service (479-640-8733) water levels and temperatures are normal for this time of year. The trout have been biting various Power Baits on light terminal tackle from Houseman Access to Parker Bottoms. Fly-anglers have reported midge-patterned flies have been doing good as well. One can also catch quite a few using wax worms with light tackle. From Houseman to Beaver, the white bass have been slow to bite, however we are still catching quite a few. Try pulling Rapala Countdowns and Shadow Raps.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said there hasn’t been much change since last week, except the lake is lower. Not as many folks fishing as last week it seems. Those that did caught a few blue catfish on minnows. A few blues were caught by bream anglers fishing with redworms as well. Not many crappie were caught last week. Bass fishing was slow, too. Buzzbaits, Texas-rigged soft plastics and flukes were the main lures for most anglers, but no large catches were reported. The bait shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during this time of year.
(Updated on 10-7-2015) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water level is normal. Bream and crappie are slow. Bass are fair on artificial lures. Catfishing is fair on worms and a few are being caught on crickets by bream anglers. Overall the fishing has been poor.
(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 10-7-2015) Lake Poinsett State Park said water temperatures are beginning to cool, which should improve fishing. Not many anglers are stopping on their way out to give reports, but many repeat customers are buying minnows, goldfish, crickets, worms and night crawlers. That tells me they are going after crappie, catfish and bream. A fishing seminar and derby will be held this Saturday from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is very clear and about a foot low. The surface water temperature is 68 to 71 degrees. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits in 8 to 10 feet of water on the upper end of the lake. No report on bream, crappie or catfish.
(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 9-30-2015) Mark Crawford with
Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are 270 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. Nymphs and Y2Ks have been producing well. Hot pink and white Trout Magnets have been working well.
(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 10-7-2015) Seth Boone at Cane Creek State Park in Star City said Cane Creek’s crappie are biting well on shiners and pink or red crappie jigs. The bass have been biting very well, especially if caught breaking in the early morning or late evening. Catfish are biting well on live bait as well as some stink bait. Bream have slowed a bit.
Lake Chicot State Park had no report.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.38 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.20 msl).
(Updated 9-30-2015) Mike Siefert at
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake is 2.5 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 temperatures range 80 to 85 degrees, depending on location. Water clarity improved to 15-25 inches of visibility away from current in the lake. Oxbows continue improving as well, with water clarity anywhere from 20 to 40 inches. Bass have been excellent the last few weeks. Most bass are the most aggressive at dawn around shallow vegetation at dawn on frogs, Bass Assassin Shads, buzz baits, Cordell Crazy Shads, and shallow jerk baits. Later in the heat of the afternoons, Largemouth bass are best on crankbaits, squarebills, and 5-7" worms around cover and cypress trees in 5-10 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. Smithwick Rouges, straight tail, 5 to 6-inch worms like the Yum dingers, trick worms, and Salty Rat Tails continue taking nice bass this week. War Eagle spinnerbaits in Coleslaw, Spot Remover, and white/chartreuse continue taking a few random fish in vegetation and grass patches. Bouncing the spinnerbaits over pads and through grass and cover, then ripping it free near the edge with a slight pause and fall action, continues to be best presentation into deeper water nearby. White bass and hybrids continue roaming Little River and the oxbows, and are schooled up in creek mouths dumping into Littler River. Whites continue being caught on red/white Roostertails, 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 now that the clarity is getting better and current reduced in Little River. Cotton Cordell smoke-colored paddletail grubs on light wire jig heads and Blakemore Roadrunners in white/chartreuse have been working in 9-15 feet of water over planted brush piles. Blue catfish and channel catfish continue biting well in Little River on trotlines baited with chicken livers, hearts and gizzards and blood bait set 10 to 17 feet deep, and on yo-yos baited with live shiners under cypress trees in back of the oxbows set 8 to 19 feet deep.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 539.79 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 396.11 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).
(Updated 9-30-2015) 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. Some surface activity has been reported in the early morning. Almost any topwater lure will work if you get it in front of the fish. Later in the day, try medium-running crankbaits and lipless crankbaits in the major coves off secondary points. Texas- and Carolina-rigged worms in green pumpkin and red shad also are working well. Look for fish at midlake around Alpine Ridge and Yancey Creek. Also with the shad migrating toward the creeks, try Big Hill and Brushy creeks. Hybrid fishing is fair with fish showing in the shad schools in the Shouse Ford and Beaton Creek areas. Look for breaking fish and throw a Tiny Torpedo, Baby Zara Spook or a 3-inch swim bait. When the fish go down, fan cast a jigging spoon, and fish it up from the bottom. A few fish are still in the deep water off Deroche Ridge. These are bigger fish. Also look for schooling fish around Alpine Ridge. Lots of bream are biting on the full moon. Look for fish in most any cove with some cover. For bluegills, use a float and fish about 4 or 5 feet deep. For shellcrackers, tightline a split shot rig near the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water. Use worms for shellcrackers and crickets for bluegills. Catfishing is very good both by bottom fishing in the coves or with noodles in deep water at night. When cove fishing, look for one with standing timber in about 20 to 30 feet of water in the Iron Mountain and dam areas. Set the noodle baits around 20 feet deep. Best baits are hot dogs soaked in strawberry Kool Aid, chicken livers, nightcrawlers, cut shad or Catfish Charlie.
(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 10-7-2015) Buddy Ham at Sportsman's One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) bass are biting well on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in shallow water. Crappie are fair on jigs and shiners. Bream have slowed. Catfishing is fair in the main river.
Jaret Rushing had no report.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Buddy Ham at Sportsman's One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) bass are fair and are beginning to school with the cooler water. Crappie are slow. No report on catfish or bream.
(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 342.15 feet msl (full pool – 342 msl).
(Updated 10-7-2015) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said the water is low. Bream are excellent on jigs, minnows and crickets. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs. A few bass and catfish have been caught lately as well.
(Updated 10-7-2015) 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. Catfishing is good on shad, minnows and worms. Bream are fair on crickets and worms.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said surface water temperature is 75 degrees. The water clarity is good upriver and is improving in the midriver area. The lower lake is still a bit dingy. Bass have been slow from dam to dam, but the action has been improving on cloudy days. Look for bass around wood cover early in the morning with buzzbaits, topwater walking baits and prop baits. Jigs and chatterbaits have been working well around midday. Stripers are biting well on jetties, jerk baits, topwater prop baits and swim baits. White bass have been schooling on the bank side of the jetties. Try tailspinners, small white crankbaits and spoons. Crappie have picked up on minnows in 10 feet of water around trees. Bream have been excellent in creeks and backwaters with many being caught on the surface using flies. Crickets and worms also are working well. Catfish have been slow, but worms fished in the creeks and cut bream fished along river points has worked for a few.
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.50 feet msl (full pool – 384 msl).
As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 568.50 feet msl (full pool – 578 msl).
(Updated 10-7-2015) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and the surface water temperature is 72 to 76 degrees. Black bass are very good and being caught with topwater baits and spy baits on points near structure. Walleye are biting well on ¾-oz. CC spoons jigged vertically near structure. Stripers are fair on live bait and hair jigs on main lake points and humps on the east end of the lake. Bream are very good on worms, grubs or crickets near brush in 15 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are biting very well near brush on small spoons, minnows or crappie jigs fished 20 to 30 feet deep. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers or stink bait.
(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 10-7-2015) 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 9-30-2015) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said the bass are moving up and hitting crankbaits and topwater baits off points. Bream are staying on their beds and hitting popping bugs. Crappie are steady on jigs and minnows. Catfish are still hitting steady on stink bait and hot dogs. 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 9-30-2015) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) said bream are biting well on crickets and popping bugs. Crappie are slow, and the bass are coming up and hitting crankbaits. Catfish are slow. The water temperatures is steadily dropping. The annual Storm Creek Lake Cleanup will be hosted by the St. Francis National Forest and Mississippi River State Park on October 3.
(Updated 10-7-2015) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is high and the water clarity is fair to good. It’s been a slow week overall with a few catfish caught on rod-and-reel. All other fishing has been slow.
