Central Arkansas


Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on wax worms and crickets, if you can find them. Crappie are biting well on minnows and Crappie Stinger jigs in the creeks. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on shad and minnows.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) had no new report.

Little Red River

Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is high and clear with two generators running. Trout are biting well on tan plastic worms, gold and orange spinners and jigs. Redworms and nightcrawlers also were catching quite a few trout.

Greers Ferry

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 463.1 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level at Greers Ferry lake is falling, and the water temperature ranges from 46 to 50 degrees. The hybrid and white bass are eating good on swim baits, hair jigs and in-line spinners, and spoons if they are on the bottom. Look for birds or for bait on your graph, the fish will be anywhere from 25 feet to 70 feet of water. Bass fishing is still good shallow as well as deep. Shallow fish can be caught on spinnerbaits, jigs and small crankbaits. Deeper fish are eating football heads, jerk baits and Carolina-rigged lizards. Crappie are suspended over brush and in pole timber in 25 to 30 feet of water over 60 to 80 feet. They are biting well on jigs tipped with minnows. Walleye are biting fairly well on trolled crankbaits, hair jigs and spoons fished from 65 feet up.

Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com had no new report.

Harris Brake Lake

Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is high and relatively clear. Bream are slow. Large crappie are biting well on minnows or pearl white, chartreuse or silver jigs. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with shad.
Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the water is high and a little stained. Crappie are biting excellently on the north side of the lake on minnows and dark-colored baby shad. Catfishing is good on minnows in shallow water. Bass are biting well on Rooster Tails and spinnerbaits. Bream are slow.


Lake Overcup

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no new report.
Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting excellently on minnows and black/silver/white Bobby Garland Baby Shads on standard jig heads or Roadrunner jig heads.

Brewer Lake

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.

Lake Maumelle

Jolly Roger’s Marina had no new report.

Lake Valencia

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.

Sunset Lake

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is high. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on Kalin’s grubs. Bass are fair on Rebel Crawdad crankbaits. Catfishing is slow.

Saline River Access in Benton

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bass and walleye are biting well on crawdad crankbaits.

Arkansas River at Morrilton

Charley’s Hidden Harbor had no report

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)

Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said the water is stained and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and red/chartreuse jigs in the main river. No report on any other species.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and at normal level below Terry Lock and Dam. Bream are slow. Crappie are biting well on minnows in the backwater. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and skipjack.


Clear Lake

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and high. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse/black tube jigs. Bass are fair on black/blue jigs. Catfishing is slow.

Peckerwood Lake

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the landing is closed until February.

Lake Pickthorne

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no report.

North Arkansas


White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is up and down with generators cycling on and off throughout the day. Trout are excellent drift-fishing from a boat. Shrimp and Power Bait are working excellently for rainbows, while Rogues, Rapalas and jigs are catching 16- to 22-inch brown trout.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no new report.

Guide Davy Wotton had no report.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said the Buffalo River is back to normal levels and Bull Shoals is running plenty of generators. Therefore we have great water color on the White River and an ample amount of water. When the water is lower, go with Zig Jigs. If the water is high, stay with Countdown Rapalas. Power Baits and redworms are working as well if you want to bottom fish. Larger nymphs, egg patterns and green woolly buggers are working well in small, shallower runs and eddies.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides had no new report.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides had no new report.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.92 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no new report.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said generation has been around the clock, varying between two to six units (5,000-20,000 cfs). Nymphing and streamers are two of the more productive presentations. Seasonal flies include scuds, sow bugs, blue wing olives, micro caddis, midges, worm, egg and sculpin patterns.

Lake Norfork

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.36 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).

Blackburn Resort said surface temperature is 50.5 with stained water in the creeks and clear on the main lake. The weather has been sunny and warm with some fronts moving in and out with cool weather between. The fishing gets better and better as the water temperature cools. Bait fish are everywhere and some big bass and walleye are suspended in deeper water. There is a good bite after sunrise and just before dark.

STR Outfitters said the stripers are in their winter pattern and are in 60 to 100 feet of water around shad in the mid-lake area. Stripers are off mid-lake bluff walls and main lake creeks. There are large schools feeding on small shad. Baits set at 24 to 36 feet were all producing. Float creek and Crystal Cove have been the best spots in the afternoons.

Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said crappie anglers have been doing well. Live bait is working the best, but small grubs tipped with a minnow are also working well. The fish are still on shallow brush (6 to 10 feet deep) early and late in the day and go to deeper brush in mid-day. You can also find them at all depths. Bass are suspended 10 to 20 feet deep in water 25 to 35 feet. Some good stripers came 40 feet down in 70 feet of water off of bluff lines.

Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is 50-52. Look for stripers suspended in 30-50 feet down during the day along bluffs and creek channels. Drop a jigging spoon and throw a stick bait for the fish up on the bank. Throw a vibratail grub on a ¼-oz. jig head to the bank and work it slowly back to the boat. Throw Wiggle Warts along the banks if the wind is blowing.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.

Norfork Tailwater

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.

Just Fishing Guides had no report.

Northwest Arkansas


Beaver Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.33 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).

Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) had no report.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass can be caught fishing a crawdad-colored Wiggle Wart crankbait along sloping chunk rock banks near creek channels that come up close to the bank. Another option is to use a jig and craw around docks and other visible cover along sloping banks. Crappie can be caught on a Shineee Hineee or tube jig on a 1/16-oz. jig head. Crappie have been holding close to brush piles or timber along creek ledges in 15 to 40 feet of water. On warm, sunny days, fish will tend to suspend above the brush closer to the surface. Good places to fish are Blue Springs, Eden Bluff, Monte-NE and Hickory Creek. White bass have been chasing balls of shad on main lake flats. Slow trolling a Bandit crankbait has been a good way to catch some fish. Point 12, the mouth of Monte-NE, Rocky Branch and in front of War Eagle Marina have all been good places to fish. Catfishing has slowed, but a few can be caught late in the day using liver or nightcrawlers from the bank at the 12 bridge access and Hickory Creek.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and high, and the surface temperature is 48 degrees. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and tube jigs. Bass are fair on jerk baits and spoons in deep water and on spinnerbaits and square-billed crankbaits in shallow water. Catfish are slow.

Beaver Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides had no new report.

Lake Elmdale

Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat had no new report.

Kings River

Just Fishing Guides had no new report.

Lake Fayetteville

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 15. Be sure to renew fishing permits and slip fees on January 15 when the store reopens.

Lake Sequoyah

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) had no report.

Northeast Arkansas


Lake Charles

Lake Charles State Park had no report.

Lake Poinsett

Lake Poinsett State Park had no report.

Crown Lake

Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. No report on the fishing.

Lake Frierson

Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and at normal level. No report on fishing conditions.

Spring River

Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are at 400 cfs at the spring and water clarity is green-tinted. The river has been up some and a split shot can help get the fly down. Y2k's, guppies and emergers have been working well. Hot pink and red Trout Magnets are hot. The weather has been really nice and has made for some great days to be on the water. Float trips are producing high numbers of rainbows and cutthroats. This is the best time of year to get out and enjoy the river.

Southeast Arkansas


Lake Chicot
Local angler Jessie Krummel said the water temperature is 47-54 degrees and is at normal level. Catfish are being caught in deep holes on liver. Crappie are biting well around brush piles near docks on black/yellow tubes. Bass are biting well on slow-rolled Bionic Custom spinnerbaits and on silver jigging spoons near creek channels and old river bends. Bass are also biting well on a white or black baby Booyah 3/8-oz. jig with a Z-Man crawfish trailer around cypress trees in 3 to 7 feet of water. Also try a blue/white Shooters 200 or 300 series crankbait around the cypress for some good bass.
Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com had no report.

Lake Chicot State Park had no report.

Cane Creek Lake

Cane Creek State Park had no report.

Lake Monticello

Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com had no report.

Southwest Arkansas


Millwood Lake
New regulations for largemouth bass have gone into effect as of January 1, 2012. See http://www.agfc.com/resources/Pages/...okFishing.aspx for details.
Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said use extreme caution on Millwood due to high current from discharge rates over 4,000 cubic feet per second. Limbs, trees and vegetation have ripped loose and are floating freely throughout the lake. Surface temperatures are 47 to 50 degrees. The lake is 260.66 feet msl, and falling, which is 17.5 inches above normal. Clarity and visibility as of Monday on the main lake is poor and muddy, ranging 2-5 inches in the River depending on location. The final of three, successive, four-foot drawdowns has ended. The lake will be held 2 feet above normal conservation pool for 30 days, then released to normal conservation pool of 259.2 feet msl. River Run East facilities are still undergoing maintenance and upgrades, and are closed until mid-July 2012. Paraloma Park is closed for winter. All other ramps and USACE parks are open. USACE recently completed updates at White Cliffs Camp ground with addition of 6-8 more campsites, and other facility improvements. The best bass bite has been pitching soft plastics to stumps, grass, lily pads and wood laydowns behind points and cuts of the river, in the swirling eddies. The best bet is week a Gene Larew Hog Craws in black, black/blue or June Bug. Yum Wooly Bugs, Texas-rigged, in Watermelon-Red, Black-Blue-Shadow and Peanut Butter and Jelly, were also catching some bass on cypress trees and knees in 8-12 feet of water. War Eagle spinnerbaits are beginning to get a few good reactions in the dead/dying lily pad stems away from current. The best colors continue to be Cole Slaw, or white and chartreuse. If you are able to find clearer water in the oxbows, Rat-L-Traps in Red Shad, Toledo Gold, or Smokey Joe were taking some smaller bass. White bass and spotted bass disappeared with the recent influx of muddy water and increased current. Snake Creek still has a few Kentucky Bass bunched up out of the muddy current that were hitting 4-inch mini-lizards in chartreuse pumpkin color. Crappie remain scattered with the increase of current and muddy water. Crappie seemed to have moved to clearer water in backs of the oxbows on deep cypress trees. Crappie were near planted brush piles along Little River between 12-14 feet deep but have moved out of the current and muddy water in search of clarity and depth. These Crappie were biting good on jigging tiny hair jigs and also hitting minnows, in the clearest water you can locate best from around 10am till early afternoon. Additionally, Southern Pro Crappie tubes, small Rocket Shads, and Blakemore Roadrunners were working over the past several weeks. Cordell smoke grubs on light lead head jigs, Blakemore Roadrunners, and Chuck'N Spins continue working, by vertical jigging in 15-16 feet depths brush piles and along old creek channels and ditches. Catfishing is good on trotlines, yo-yos and tight lines along current and break lines in the outer bends of Little River. Blues and channel cats were biting Catfish Charlie, cut shad and chicken livers, in 12-15 feet of Little River on the outer break lines in current or on minnows and cut shad on the yo-yos tied along the Little River, in 10-15 feet depths.

Lake Columbia

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report.

Lake Erling

Steve’s Outdoor Sports (870-234-2222) had no report.

Lake Greeson

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 548.14 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and dingy and there’s a lot of debris floating in the lake. No report on any

For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blake’s website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.

Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)

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

Cossatot River

Cossatot River State Park had no report.

DeGray Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.02 feet MSL (Flood pool - 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the water temperature is in the low 50s. The lake is clear up to Point 14 and has a slight stain farther up. Bass fishing is good with many reports coming on 4- and 5-inch white or albino swim baits. The Zoom Swimming Fluke has been especially productive. Best pattern has been on main lake points and humps. Use a ¼-ounce jig head with the swim bait and slow roll it near the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water. Also a few fish have been reported on heavy jigs with plastic trailers and Texas-rigged worms, both of which should be fished off deep points and ledges at 15 to 40 feet. Best areas for bass have been between Arlie Moore and Cox Creek. Crappie fishing is fair on the deep main lake brush piles. Look for brush off points and at the mouths of spawning coves in 25 to 30 feet of water. Fish a 2-inch Tennessee shad grub on a 1/16-ounce chartreuse jig head over and just above the thickest part of the brush. Move the jig very slowly with little to no jigging action. Be sure to put on a crappie nibble, it makes a big difference in this cold water. Best areas are between Point 28 and Point Cedar. Also try Big Hill Creek. Hybrid fishing is fair in the upper end of the lake between Shouse Ford and Point Cedar. The fish are in small schools on the big flats suspended about 15 to 20 feet down in 30 feet of water. Use the sonar to locate the schools and throw a white or chartreuse 3-inch curly tail grub on a ¼-ounce jig head. Also try a ½-ounce jigging spoon in white or chartreuse. Bream fishing is slow with only a few fish coming from the same attractors that hold crappies. Tight line a worm or cricket to just above the brush. Also look for schools on the outside of the brush.

West-Central Arkansas


Lake Nimrod

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 356.37 feet MSL.

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said the water is stained and high. Crappie are biting well below the dam and in open water. Bream are slow.

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are fair on crickets and worms. Catfishing is fair on worms.

Fourche La Fave River

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said the river is stained and high. Catfish are biting on stink bait and liver. All other species are slow.

Lake Hinkle

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

Lake Dardanelle

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said had no report

Blue Mountain Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 396.2 feet MSL.

Lake Ouachita

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 577.81 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing is good with a lot of fish shallow in the flooded buck brush. Jigs and Texas-rigged brush hogs have been producing well. Stripers are fair but spotty; look for shad and try large spoons.

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports had no report.

Mountain Harbor Resort had no new report.

Lake Hamilton

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports said the water is extremely swift as the lakes are being drawn back down after the heavy rains.

For a daily fishing report from Darryl Morris, visit Family Fishing Trips.

Lake Catherine

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

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that Entergy continues to run large amounts of water through Carpenter Dam to bring Lake Ouachita out of flood pool. Fast currents have been the norm for weeks which has crippled boat fishermen and bank anglers alike. Tailrace waters have cleared but remain fast and treacherous. Rainbow trout stocking began in November. Fly fishermen are catching trout by casting egg patterns in orange or pink under a strike indicator in areas of calmer water. With trout scattered all over the tailrace, anglers need to be able to move from area to area in search of feeding fish. Small streamers in white or grey have also accounted for some quality rainbows. Bank fishermen have been successful using wax worms with a marshmallow floater over sand bars and the edges of fast water. Trout tend to stay close to moving water, but just out of the main flow. Power Baits in bright colors are the best bet. A few trout have been caught on small crankbaits that imitate crawfish or shad cast around rock structure or trolled in the current over shallow flats. Striper activity has been nearly zero with few reports of top water action or fish taken in the last several weeks.

Lake Atkins

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.

South-Central Arkansas


White Oak Lake

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will commence a renovation project on Lower White Oak Lake in January 2012. Commission staff will begin draining the lake January 4, 2012.

Moro Bay

Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay had no report.

Ouachita River Oxbows

Jaret Rushing had no new report.

Tri-County Lake

Jaret Rushing had no report.

East Arkansas


Bear Creek Lake

Mississippi River State Park had no new report.


Storm Creek Lake

Mississippi River State Park had no new report.
White River

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report.

Maddox Bay

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is muddy and high. No one is fishing.

Horseshoe Lake

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on wax worms around the piers. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs around the piers. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and nightcrawlers hung from yo-yos and limb lines around cypress trees


Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
2 Natural Resources Drive | Little Rock, AR 72205 | (800) 364-4263 - (501) 223-6300 | www.agfc.com