Fishing Highlight of the Week: When fishing from a boat during the fall and winter, be sure to carry a change of dry clothes (including underwear) in a waterproof bag. Falling overboard in cold water can be deadly, even after you get back in the boat. Hypothermia can be avoided by getting into dry clothes and getting back to the warmth of the truck.

Arkansas and White river levels are available at:
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality

Family and Community Fishing Ponds: Catfish stockings are back in full swing across the state. Visit http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/Fi...ogramsFCF.aspx for a list of program ponds.

Central Arkansas
North Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
Northeast Arkansas
Southeast Arkansas
Southwest Arkansas
West-Central Arkansas
South-Central Arkansas
East Arkansas


Central Arkansas
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is stained and low. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets. Crappie are excellent on pink minnows and pearl-colored Crappie Stingers in Gold Creek and Caney Creek. Crappie are biting well on yo-yos baited with minnows at night. Bass are fair on white/silver spinnerbaits fished around lily pads. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers, cut bait and trotline minnows.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are beginning to pick up in the coves. All other species are fair.

Little Red River

Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and low, with generators running 2 hours a day. Trout fishing is excellent. Many good brown trout are being caught on jigs, wax worms and various flies.

Greers Ferry

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 456.2 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 461 MSL).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the lake level is falling, and the surface water temperature is in the mid- to upper 60s. The hybrid and white bass fishing is still going strong, look for shad and use topwater baits, spoons, in-line spinners, grubs and Alabama rigs (small umbrella rigs that are cast instead of trolled). The bass fishing is fairly slow, with all the cold fronts coming through. Try topwater baits, spinnerbaits, jigs and jighead worms. The bream are biting well in shallow water and areas as deep as 27 feet on crickets and nightcrawlers. No report on catfish. Walleye are being caught on crankbaits trolled in the channels and on nightcrawlers dragged in 23-50 feet of water. Crappie are still going strong, if you can find them. They are bunched up in small groups; try jigs and jigs tipped with minnows around open guts of pockets and the pole timber in in 60-80 feet. Set the jig about 15 to 25 feet deep.

Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said the water level is falling, and the surface temperature is in the mid- to upper 60s. A brief feeding trend is occurring at first light and midday. Schooling fish are feeding heavily when you can get your timing right. Fast-moving minnow imitations like swimbaits, grubs and various soft-plastic jerkbaits are catching the highest numbers of fish. Channel swings into main lake and secondary points are key.

Harris Brake Lake

Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is murky and low. Bream are fair. Crappie are excellent on pearl white jigs and minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. No report on catfish.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on minnows and Bobby Garland Baby Shad. Catfish are biting well on minnows and blood bait in deep water near the boat run. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Rapala crankbaits. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms.

Lake Overcup

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

Brewer Lake

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

Lake Maumelle

Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water level has dropped to 3.9 feet below the spillway, which is normal for this time of year. Largemouth bass are biting well on Carolina rigs, jig-and-pig combos about 10 to 15 feet deep. Bass are beginning to move to shallower areas, right off the weeds. Kentucky bass are biting very well on white and yellow Rooster Tails and grubs fished on a jighead in 5 to 15 feet of water. White bass are fair on the North Shore end of Big Island to the restricted area. Trolling with jigs, Rooster Tails and Rouges about 10 to 15 feet deep has been good to find the white bass. When you find a school, stop and use a white CC spoon. Crappie are biting well on the edges of channels and on small jigs and colored grubs in 20 to 25 feet of water. Bream are biting red/white jigs and worms in 20 to 30 feet of water in the channels. Catfishing is fair on cut shad and prepared bait.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) had no 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 clear and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on 2-inch Tennessee shad-colored grubs. Bass are excellent on Zoom Super Flukes in Smoking Shad color. Catfishing is slow.

Saline River Access in Benton

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Bass are biting well on green pumpkin soft-plastic worms and black/blue jigs. Catfishing is slow.

Arkansas River at Morrilton

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said largemouth bass are biting very well on wood structure in 3 to 10 feet of water on blue herring-colored double-willow spinnerbaits. White bass are moving to points of jetties and drop offs of sandbars where shad are concentrated. Purple-backed crankbaits are working very well. Catfishing is good in 8 to 15 feet of water on shad-and-worm combinations. Drum are biting very well on crankbaits fished around jetties. No report on stripers or bream.

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 low and clear. Crappie are biting well on minnows and red/chartreuse jigs in the backwaters around wood cover.

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

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting well on black/blue jigs. Catfishing is good on cut skipjack.

Clear Lake

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Bass are fair on white spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.

Peckerwood Lake

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and low, with a few stumps showing. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting well on brown/chartreuse jigs. Catfishing is good on stinkbait and chicken liver.

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 clear and low. Generation is up and down with up to four generators running at times and no generators running at others. Trout fishing is excellent. Fly-anglers are doing well using midges and woolly buggers when the water is low. When the water is high, drift-fishing PowerBait, shrimp and trout worms has worked well. Rouges and Rapala stickbaits are working well when the water is moving.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said the water is clear with one to three generators running each day. Power Bait in yellow, sunrise and white have worked well on the edges of gravel bars along drop offs.

Guide Davy Wotton said lower water generation are allowing for good wade fishing access. You should experience fish feeding activity through most of the day. Water conditions are good with clean water, possibly some loose moss, during the early stages of generation. All options for fishing will work; dead drift nymph, dry, streamers, wet and soft hackles. Water depth and speed may determine the best option. First choice would be nymph fishing followed by dry/nymph rig combinations. Hoppers and large dry fly patterns are still working some days, but not all, mainly due to the cloudless days. If streamer fishing look for the banks with good shade and tree cover, particularly over shallow slow water zones, this is the most likely place to find trophy browns.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said water levels are staying consistent, but lower than in past weeks. Fishing has been consistent with very little boat traffic or fishing in general. Ginger or olive-colored jigs are working on 4-pound-test line, with 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jigs working the best. Spots with faster, lower water hold a lot of fish due to food and oxygen.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said the river levels are: Ponca – 1.37 feet and 2.9 cfs; Pruitt – 3.46 feet and 9.4 cfs; Tyler Bend – 3.50 feet and 44 cfs, and Buffalo Point – 2.24 feet and 71 cfs. The entire river is very low and wading or dragging a canoe is the only way to fish except in the Buffalo Point area and below. Water temperatures range from 53 to 69 degrees. Smaller fish have been the rule. The river flows are very low and care should be taken to not spook fish. Spin fishermen are doing good, bottom-bouncing tubes, lizards and brush hawgs in watermelon/red and green pumpkin. For fly-fishermen, try crazy ’dads, rabbit tail sliders, woolly buggers and Clouser minnows on both floating and sink-tip lines.

Crooked Creek

Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelly’s Slab is reading 9.36 ft. and 4.3 cfs. The creek is low for floating but possible in some areas. Wade fishing is excellent. Spin fishing with soft plastics and 1/16-oz. jigs will consistently catch good numbers of fish. Bottom bouncing soft plastics such as 4-inch lizards, 3-inch tubes and 3- and 4-inch brush hawgs in watermelon, watermelon/red and green pumpkin are working best. For fly-fishers use Clousers, zonkers, crazy dads, sculpins, poppers, sliders and hopper patterns.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 651.24 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service said the lake is still in the turnover stage and the walleye are pretty scattered. We are catching Walleyes anywhere from 10-60 feet deep. There are many shad in the lake, and with water temperatures in the mid-60s, we need a good cold week or so to get the turn over completed and the fall bite going. We are catching some good size walleyes on jigging spoons, bottom bouncer and spinner rigs as well as crankbaits trolled on leadcore line. We are catching a pretty good mixed bag of white and black bass, crappies, yellow perch and large bluegills. Split shotting nightcrawlers on bluff ends is catching spotted bass and bluegills with crappie biting on minnows.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said water releases are continuous at 2,000 cfs with releases ramping up to 10,000 cfs during the day. Micro caddis are heavy on the water most days, so nymphing with size 18-20 tan caddis larva/pupae patterns is working well. Standard patterns including scud, sow bug, pheasant tail style nymphs, egg and worm patterns should be in your fly box as well. With brown trout approaching their spawn and on the move, streamers should be part of your arsenal as well.

Lake Norfork

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 549.74 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL, April-Sept. - 554 MSL).

Blackburn Resort said surface temperature has dropped to 67 degrees. The creeks are stained and the main lake is clearing. Fish have moved off the main lake points to halfway back in the creeks in about 30 feet of water and are hitting on spoons, crankbaits and spinners. White bass, crappie and spotted bass are the best. On cloudy days you can catch fish all day. Pay attention to prevailing winds and fish in those creeks. If you can find brush there will be fish there, otherwise look for broken schools of shad.

Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass fishing on Norfork Lake has been outstanding. The fishing should only improve as the water temperature drops into the 60s. Bluegill fishing has also been fantastic. Crickets have been working the best, but cut night crawlers threaded on the hook will work as well. Stripers are showing up all over the lake, but the bite is still slow.

Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is in the mid-60s. Some bass are still chasing baitfish to the surface and hitting topwater baits early and just before dark. Watch for surface activity on points and in the back of bays. Throw a Zara Spook, Pop-R, prop bait or jerk bait. If the wind is blowing throw a spinnerbait or a crankbait along the bank. Try a swimbait and reel it slowly. Look for fish suspended and get your bait down to them. The night bite should get going any time.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said the crappie are moving into the creeks after large schools of shad in the mornings. Trolling with Bandit crankbaits down to 8 to 12 feet has worked this week before the front came in.

Norfork Tailwater

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said wade fishing is picking up in the mornings at all public access areas. Generation has been light, starting about 11 a.m. during weekdays.

Just Fishing Guides said generation has been beginning mid-day for about 6-7 hours at 3,500 cfs with pulsing spikes to about 1,000 cfs to help the low DO problem. Low DO levels can hamper fishing with lethargic fish. Windy days can help and concentrating on riffle/run areas can improve your catch ratio. Always land and release fish quickly so they can live to fight another day. Scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges, pheasant tails, hare’s ears, hare ’n copper, egg and worm patterns and small streamers are all standard fare for this time of year.

Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,116.71 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 1,120 MSL).

Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said striper fishing is expected to be fair in consideration of the cold fronts. You will have to check several spots throughout the day as the striper make their way toward winter haunts. The striper fishing will be fair with striper taken on live shad fished on lightly weighted balloon lines trolled 50-100 behind the boat and 20-30 feet deep. The stripers will be active most of the day with peaks around sunrise, sunset and during generation. When fishing upriver, avoid the brown water and look for the greener water. Fish location is greatly influenced by lake level and current flow, current in the lake from generation will generally position fish on upstream or downstream edges of structure; check the daily lake level and flow data link here. Live shad in the 4-8 inch range are the go-to for trophy stripers. Try free lining, as the fish will start hitting free lined baits regularly soon. On the mid and lower sections of the lake, check out points 4 and 5 and Lost Bridge South. In the Bit Clifty arm, fishing has been fair. Some stripers are being caught in the deep water near the road bed in Rocky Branch in front of the marina. As you get uplake, the stripers are picking up. Cedar Creek, Ford Creek and Goat Island at Larue are all good places, as is Copper Mine, Blackburn Creek, Beaver Shores, Monte-Ne and War Eagle. Be sure to check out Joe Creek in Horseshoe Bend. Most walleye are about 10-20 feet deep off points. The areas around the islands at Rocky Branch, Prairie Creek and near points 6, 5, 3, and 1 have all been producing walleye. Flat line troll with Hot-N-Tot’s, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripstiks in natural blue or black back combos or chartreuse/orange and clown colors. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing a few walleye.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting well on crawdad-colored medium-diving crankbaits fished along sloping gravel to chunk rock banks early and late. In the middle of the day, Carolina-rigged green pumpkin or watermelon plastics have been effective fished over points inside main coves like Ventris, Fords Creek and Van Winkle Hollow. Crappie fishing continues to be good. Bigger fish are suspending just off the bottom in 18 to 35 feet of water around brush piles and standing timber right on channel ledges. A minnow or tube jig on a 1/16-oz. jighead has been working best. Lots of good fishing has been occurring from Monte-Ne upstream to Blue Springs. White bass have been schooled up in Prairie Creek and around Rocky Branch Park. Trolling Hot-N-Tots has been most productive. Catfishing has been best late in the day into the night from the bank using nightcrawlers or liver. Monte-Ne and Hickory Creek have been good places to fish.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs around brush. Bass are fair on a variety of lures. White bass are being caught deep on white spoons. Catfishing is fair on live bait.

Beaver Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said generation has been starting around 1 p.m. with flows to 8,000 cfs. Most of the time, water releases are in the afternoon, but with colder mornings, be prepared for morning releases. The water is off color due to Beaver Lake turning over. Wade fishing is good for numbers using BH Peasant Tails, BH Simple Sow and scuds, sizes 14-16. Small streamers including wooly buggers, 56ers and sparrows sizes 8-10 are working also. Cover a lot of water and fan cast areas to find aggressive fish.

Lake Elmdale

Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said rain and cold north winds have kept most fishermen away. Of those that braved the elements the bite was hardly worth the effort. Bass were biting soft-plastic worms and creature baits and brown/orange jigs. Crappie remain scattered, but can be caught trolling crankbaits, or fishing over brush tops with jigs tipped with crappie nibbles. Bluegill and redear have moved deeper and are fair on worms.

Kings River

Just Fishing Guides said the river gauge near Grandview is reading 2.65 ft. and 70 cfs. Water temperatures are hitting the upper 60s in the afternoon. Best fishing times are later as the water heats up. Fishing is good for fly-anglers using Clousers, sparkle grubs, rubber-legged woolly buggers and various poppers and sliders like sneaky petes and rabbit tail sliders in black, yellow and white. Spin fishermen are catching fish on tubes, lizards and baby brush hawgs as well as Rebel Teeny Wee Craw crankbaits. Don’t forget to try a buzzbait or spinnerbait.

Lake Fayetteville

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on artificial lures. Catfish are fair on worms and chicken livers.

Lake Sequoyah

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around brush and stumps in 2 to 8 feet of water.

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) had no report.

Lake Frierson

Lake Frierson State Park said the water is murky and low. Catfishing is good on chicken liver. No report on any other species.

Spring River

Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are at 270 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. The fishing has been excellent. Nymphs, woolly buggers and Y2k’s have been big hits with the trout. Hunting season has reduced the fishing pressure and it has been quiet on the Spring River. Hot pink and red Trout Magnets have been hot as well.

Southeast Arkansas
Lake Chicot

Lake Chicot State Park had no report.

Cane Creek Lake

Cane Creek State Park said crappie are doing well at Cane Creek on minnows, especially around the beaver pond. Catfish are also doing well on trotlines, with several 30 and 40 lb. flatheads being caught.

Lake Monticello

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

Southwest Arkansas
Millwood Lake

Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the Millwood Lake USACE project office recently announced the 4-foot drawdown on Millwood currently in progress will be ended in mid-December 2011, rather than running through February, 2012. This is in part due to allowing sufficient time to elapse to capture enough rainfall to raise the lake 2 feet above normal pool (261.9 vs normal elevation of 259.2) and flush out the floating grass mats and excess vegetation killed during the drawdown, prior to the annual fish spawning cycles which normally begin in late February to Mid-March. This is anticipated to allow enough time to flush out the decaying vegetation and return the lake to normal elevation of 259.2 prior to the spawn. Surface temps dropped to 62 to 67 degrees. The lake is at 256.01 mfsl, and steady, which is 38 inches below normal. The discharge rate at the dam is 173 cfs. Water clarity is fair, but not as good as last week due to high wind and thunderstorms. Visibility is currently ranging 10-12 inches in the River depending on location. USACE recently completed updates at White Cliffs Camp ground with addition of 6-8 more campsites, and other facility improvements. River Run East is still temporarily closed for maintenance and construction by the USACE until further notice. River Run West and Beards Lake are still open for recreation. The best bass bite has shifted to late morning through mid-afternoon. Largemouth bass are on early fall feeding patterns relating to, and following very large schools of shad. The best bet is to fish Bomber crankbaits, Cordell hammered spoons and Rat-L-Traps around schooling fish in open water and Bass Assassin shads, Johnson chrome spoons, and Strikeworks jigs around isolated cover. Largemouths are still ambushing targets over lily pads, around 2-6 feet deep, adjacent to creek channels. Johnson chrome spoons with a white grub trailer on the tail, or a Heddon Moss Boss (white) are working by bouncing over and through the remaining lily pads. War Eagle Spinnerbaits have been getting good reactions over the past couple weeks, and best colors working lately are Cole Slaw, Spot Remover or chartreuse/white. Best colors of Rat-L-Traps are High Definition Threadfin Shad, Golden Shiner or Millwood Magic, in the clearest water locations. The best Bomber crankbait colors are Citrus Shad, Tennessee Shad, and Foxy Shad. White bass and spotted bass remain loosely schooling from mid-morning, at various locations upriver in creeks and in oxbows through mid-afternoon. These loosely grouped schools are getting tightly packed when cold fronts pass through, then separating as the surface temps warm over the course of the day. Hurricane Creek, Horseshoe oxbow lake and White Cliffs are very good locations for finding these loosely packed schools. These schooling fish are hitting Rat-L-Traps and Bomber crankbaits. Start at both ends of where Hurricane Creek intersect and dump into Little River, and work back, staying in the creek channel from 9-14 feet depths. Focus especially around the larger creek channel’s outer bends and junctions with the river. Crappie are fair to good and are grouping tighter into planted brush piles along Little River between 10-15 feet deep. These crappie are biting well on tiny hair jigs and minnows from around 8 a.m. until noon. Additionally, Southern Pro Crappie tubes, small Rocket Shads, and Blakemore Roadrunners were working over the past several weeks. Catfish are fair to good on trotlines, yo-yos and tight lines along Little River. Blue and channel cats were biting Catfish Charlie, dog food and cottonseed meal cake, in 15-20 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 of water.

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 538.2 MSL (Flood pool - 548 MSL).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is low and the surface temperature is in the low 60s. Bream are slow. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on soft-plastic lizards and topwater lures in the mornings. Catfishing is excellent on jugs and trotlines baited with minnows or stinkbait.

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 said the water is starting to have a nice deep green color and the fish are active. Fall is a great time to catch a big smallmouth. The river is flowing at just under 2 feet. Water levels have risen a little due to a couple of nice rains. The nights are starting to be colder. This time of year use smaller faster moving baits because the fish will move a great distance for food. Use a Rooster Tail, or Beetle Spin to catch the most fish. If you’re looking for bigger fish, try slightly larger baits such as bass jigs or tubes.

DeGray Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 395.67 feet MSL (Flood pool - 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the mid-60s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is pretty good, but few anglers are out because of football and hunting seasons. Best bet for bass has been secondary points in the big coves and creeks. Look for surface-feeding fish in the early morning and throw a topwater such as a Zara Spook, Sammy, Spittin Image, Fluke or a 3-inch swimbait. Later in the day, use a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard around rock or wood cover at depths from 8 to 25 feet. Also try a ½-ounce jig with a plastic critter trailer in crawfish or black/blue. A few big fish were reported on spinnerbaits fished around the standing timber in coves on the south side of the lake. Quite a few big spotted bass were reported on finesse worms at 20 to 30 feet deep along bluff banks and rocky points. Look for bass between Edgewood and Point Cedar. Brushy and Big Hill creeks are also producing. No reports on crappies, but the fish are in the attractors in 16 to 20 feet of water. Look for brush piles outside spawning coves and fish a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce jig head with a 2-inch grub or tube just above the brush. Hybrid fishing has been good with the fish still on the deep pattern suspended at 45 to 50 feet in 90 to 110 feet of water. The fish are now in open water, which makes locating and catching mush easier. Use the sonar to locate fish, which will be in small schools, and drop a 3-inch flat-tailed grub in smoke/silver sparkle or a 1-ounce spoon in white or chartreuse to above the fish at 35 to 40 feet. Tip; Once fish are found, be sure to mark the location on your GPS. Even though the fish are not on any kind of cover, they tend to hang out in certain spots. You can go back to these locations days later and still find fish there. Look for fish between Iron Mountain and the islands across from the State Park Marina. Catfish are doing well with some nice catches reported, with mostly channel cats. Fish at night with trotlines and noodles baited with Catfish Charlie, hot dogs and soap, blood bait and nightcrawlers. Set the trotlines across the mouth of coves on the south side of the lake. Drop the noodles along the bluff banks between points 14 and 15. Also most anywhere in Brushy Creek.

West-Central Arkansas
Lake Nimrod

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 342.31 feet MSL.

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting great on minnows in open water around the upper river in 9 to 11 feet of water. Bream are biting on crickets, worms and Rock Hoppers in the upper river.

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are biting crickets and worms. Catfish are biting well on worms.

Fourche La Fave River

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said catfish are biting on yo-yos and trotlines baited with stink bait and livers, set in the river channel.

Lake Hinkle

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

Lake Dardanelle

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said fishing has been a lot of fun. We have had many reports of many types of fish being caught in the area. Largemouth bass are biting best on Rat-L-Traps and plastic worms. White bass are still biting, but are starting to thin out to make room for the bigger crappie. We have started to see more and more crappie weighing in at more than a pound now, so they are getting to be nice eating size. Jig color preferences have been anything with sparkle or silver in it. Crappie minnow fishermen have had the best luck pulling the bigger ones in at the end of tree tops and fishing 4-6 feet deep. Catfish have been biting best on shad when you can find them. Stinkbait was doing very well before the cooler weather started setting in.

Blue Mountain Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 384.22 feet MSL.

Lake Ouachita

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 569.17 MSL (Flood pool - 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are schooling up in the creek arms. Stripers are in smaller groups, but you can find some in the creeks near points.

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports had no report.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 64 degrees and clearing. Largemouth bass are good on jighead worms in a watermelon seed color. Walleye are still fair on bottom bouncer jigs, spoons and deep-diving crankbaits trolled 25 to 35 feet deep around brush. Stripers are still very good and being caught with live bait and trolling large hair jigs or crankbaits 18-25 feet deep. Topwater reports are starting to come in as well. Bream are still slow and being caught on crickets and worms 18 to 25 feet deep. Crappie are excellent near and over brush in water 12 to 20 feet deep on minnows or Tennessee shad or rainbow trout-colored crappie grubs. Catfish are still fair and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines 20-30 feet deep.

Lake Hamilton

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports had no report.

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, said Entergy is releasing water below Carpenter Dam for 2 hours in the early morning until Nov. 5, when the winter drawdown begins. Cold nights have caused water temperature in the tailrace to fall into the high 50s with clear conditions. Generation times during the winter drawdown will be from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily and will be completed on Nov. 13. A 5-foot drawdown will be in place for Lake Catherine until early March when area lakes will begin refilling. Walleye are being taken in the 3-pound class below the dam and bridge on live minnows or nightcrawlers at night when the turbines are not running. These fish have been present all year and have given anglers an opportunity to catch a great game fish when most species have moved away from the dam. White bass and crappie will move into the tailrace this month following the shad schools. Some are present now and being caught on 1/16 and 1/8 ounce jigs in white or gray. Shallow-running crankbaits work well during times of current. Large numbers of white bass and crappie will be present this month and most of December, feeding on shad. Rainbow trout stocking will begin again this month with fish normally present the week of Thanksgiving. Large stripers will be in the tailrace as soon as the trout stocking program begins. These predator fish feed heavily on stocked trout and can be caught on large topwater lures and soft plastics in the 5- to 7-inch range. Low water conditions below Carpenter Dam creates a great environment for wade fishermen, but boaters need to use extreme caution when navigating the area.

Lake Atkins

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said crappie are finally starting to move into the coves. People are catching them on minnows, rosy red minnows and jigs. Bass have picked back up after a few slow weeks. Catfish are doing well out in deep water on minnows and cut bait. Bream are also out deep water on small jigs and worms. White bass are being caught in coves where shad are schooling. Water level is about 2 feet below normal, and clear. Water temperature is in the mid- to high 60s.

South-Central Arkansas
White Oak Lake

The drop in water level at Lower White Oak is almost completely stopped, however it is a temporary fix, and plans are being made to repair the damaged gate. Currently, the only boat ramp that is usable on Lower White Oak is the dam access ramp.

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 report.

Tri-County Lake

Jaret Rushing had no report.

East Arkansas
Bear Creek Lake

Mississippi River State Park said campers say bass are biting on topwater lures and small spinnerbaits in coves. Catfish are fair on chicken liver and SPAM.

Storm Creek Lake

Mississippi River State Park said crappie are fair on redworms. Catfish are biting well on green sunfish. Crappie are fair on minnows.

White River

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is low and clear. Crappie are biting well on a jig-and-minnow combination fished around brush in the river. Bass are biting well on grubs, Senkos and naturally colored jigs. No report on any other species.

Maddox Bay

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is low and clear. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. No report on catfish.

Horseshoe Lake

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished around lily pads. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around the deep end of piers. Bass are biting well on weedless spoons fished over lily pads. Catfishing is good on trotlines and yo-yos baited with cut bait hung around cypress trees.