Fishing Highlight of the Week: As the water gets colder, soft-plastic tubes and grubs begin to lose their appeal to fish. These lures take a lot of movement to produce a lifelike action, and cold-weather fishing is often a very slow affair. Bucktail jigs and marabou jigs often produce better during cold months because they still retain a lifelike action with very little movement.

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: Trout are being stocked in many ponds 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 high and stained. Bream fishing is slow. Crappie are excellent on pink minnows and white Crappie Stinger jigs in 12 to 24 inches of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair.

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie are biting excellently on jigs and minnows. Bream are fair on redworms and wax worms. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on yo-yos baited with minnows or poles baited with nightcrawlers.

Little Red River

Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and two units are running at times, but the water has been low most of the time. During low water, trout fishing is excellent on wax worms and marshmallows. During high water, trout are biting well on in-line spinners.

Greers Ferry

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 465.79 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 461 MSL).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is rising. The surface temperature is 60-65 degrees. Bass fishing is good on topwater baits, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and jigs in shallow water and football head jigs and Carolina rigs out deeper. The crappie have been scattered with the cloud cover but are still suspended in 15-25 feet of water around pole timber and even in open water over 60-80 feet; try jigs and jigs with minnows. No report on catfish. Bream have slowed with the rising water, but will adjust soon and will be biting well on crawlers and crickets in 1 foot out to 15 feet of water. Walleye are on the move as the river fish are grouping up and the lake fish are moving up as the water does; try crawlers drug around 15-27 feet of water and troll crankbaits around edges of flats , bridge pilings and in the main lake next to the channel. Hybrids and white bass are biting well and should be on a tear from now until the January. Look for bait and drop spoons, in-line spinners and swimbaits just below the bait clouds.

Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said the water is rising from the rain and runoff. Few anglers are on the water. Walleye are beginning to feed well in shallow water on minnow-imitating lures and soft plastics. Bass are in deep brush in the backs of creeks and on main lake points. They are also in very shallow water, where the runoff is flowing into the lake. Hybrids and whites are both feeding on the main lake and in select creek and river arms. There hasn’t been much surface activity, but these fish are feeding on deeper shad. As the morning wears on they will force the shad shallower in the column but not to the surface. Depths of 12-22 feet over much deeper water have been best.

Harris Brake Lake

Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair. No report on catfish or bream.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the water is stained. Crappie are biting well on minnows and dark colored Bobby Garland Baby Shad. Catfish are biting well on minnows in deep water around the boat run. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Rapalas. Bream are slow.

Lake Overcup

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is about a foot high and dingy. Crappie are biting well on white/chartreuse jigs and pearl Crappie Stingers around boat docks and brush piles. Bream are slow. Catfish are fair on large minnows and cut skipjack. Bass are slow.

Brewer Lake

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

Lake Maumelle

Jolly Roger’s Marina said the water level is inches below the spillway and the water temperature is around 50 degrees. Largemouth bass are excellent in the creeks and backs of coves, hitting spinnerbaits. Spotted bass are biting very well on Rooster Tails, jigs and grubs in secondary coves 5 to 10 feet deep. White bass are biting well on the North Shore end of Big Island to the restricted area. A Little George or white spoon will work. Crappie are biting well on the edges of channels in 20 to 25 feet of water on small jigs and pink minnows. Bream are slow on worms and red/white jigs in 20 to 30 feet of water. Catfishing is slow, but a few have been caught on prepared bait and cut shad.

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 at normal level and clarity. Bream are slow. Crappie are fair on 2-inch Tennessee shad colored grubs in 10 to 12 feet of water around brush piles. Bass are biting well on shad-colored crankbaits and black/blue jigs in 10 feet of water. Catfishing is slow.

Saline River Access in Benton

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is muddy and high.

Arkansas River at Morrilton

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the high water pushed the shad back in the coves and backwater areas. Catfishing is good on the backside of jetties on whole shad. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits around the mudlines. No report on any other species.

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 on the rise and the current is swift. Crappie are fair in the backwater and on the main river on red/chartreuse jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and jigs. Catfishing is good on worms.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water below Terry Lock and Dam is high and muddy. Bream are fair. Crappie are fair. Bass are fair. Catfishing is good on cut skipjack and shad.

Clear Lake

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and stained. Crappie are biting well on minnows and chartreuse/white jigs. No report on bass, bream or catfish.

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) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear during low water and cloudy during generation. Typically two generators are running in the mornings. Trout are biting well on Lil’ Cleos, Buoyant spoons and Rooster Tails. Fly anglers are doing well on copper johns, zebra midges, woolly buggers and hopper imitations. Brown trout are biting well on Rapalas and Rogues during generation and on white 1/8-oz. jigs.

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said little to no generation this past week has the fish holding in deep holes behind shoals without much current. Shad Raps in Black and Gold and Silver and Black in a size 5 have work well in the mornings fished very slowly. Power Bait in bubble gum, pink and white work better this week than corn.

Guide Davy Wotton said fishing continues to be good despite the cold, rain and wind. Generation has been from zero to high levels. Water release from Bull Shoals Dam is still warm, which has somewhat retarded the brown trout spawn in the upper levels of the river. Nymph fishing techniques using white tail, prism and zebra midges in black, red, pearl and silver has been very productive. During high flows, try egg and worm patterns. Trophy browns may well hit a streamer along shorelines. Dry flies including Adams, BWO and elk hair caddis have worked well during low flows.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said the river started to clear and get that green look about Thanksgiving and the fish really turned on. Black/Gold/White Rapalas have been the ticket for all the fish you’d like to catch. When the water cleared a little more, Blue Fox spinners in gold along with black/yellow Panther Martins produced quite a few fish.

Buffalo River

Just Fishing Guides said the Buffalo River levels were: Ponca – 2.08 feet and 57 cfs; Pruitt – 2.54 feet and 155 cfs; Tyler Bend – 4.88 feet and 612 cfs, and Buffalo Point – 3.61 feet and 572 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 are 53-63 degrees. Smaller fish have been the rule. The river flows are very low, about half of the average flow, and care should be taken to not spook fish. Spin fisherman are doing good bottom-bouncing tubes, lizards and brush hogs in watermelon/red and green pumpkin. For fly-anglers, 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 10.14 feet and 28 cfs. The creek is low for floating. 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 brush hogs in watermelon, watermelon/red and green pumpkin is working well. Fly-anglers should try Clousers, zonkers, crazy ‘dads and sculpins.

Bull Shoals Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.66 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no report.

Bull Shoals Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said extended periods of low water over the weekend has provided outstanding wade fishing. The Narrows, Wildcat and Rim Shoals are all fishing extremely well. A variety of flies are producing browns up to 20 inches long. Suggested patterns include fox squirrel nymph, BH simple sow, hare 'n copper, BH hare's ear, BH flashback pheasant tail, San Juan worm and Y2K, all in sizes 12-16.

Lake Norfork

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 550.88 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).

Blackburn Resort had no report.

STR Outfitters said stripers have moved to their winter pattern; look for them in the main part of the lake channels and creeks. They are roaming in big schools, but it’s very hard to stay with them. Most of the fish are in the 35- to 40-foot range in 50 to 80 feet of water. Shiners and small shad are working the best.

Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said the fish are schooling and starting the feeding frenzy that’s typical before winter. They are aggressive and active. If you are looking to catch that trophy striper, now is the time to try your luck. The crappie bite has been very good. The crappie are on sunken brush piles in 30-35 feet of water. The fish are suspended on top of the brush and also in shallower water inside the brush closer to the bank. Vertical jigging a spoon as well as throwing a small grub is working great.

Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is still around 60 degrees, but will drop this week with the cold weather. Bass are still hitting on crankbaits and spinnerbaits near windblown banks. For the deeper ones throw a jig and work it slow. Check bluff ends for walleye. Stripers are in deeper water during the day and moving up on flats at night.

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

Norfork Tailwater

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been slow with little to no generation. Oxygen levels are still low upriver toward the dam.

Just Fishing Guides said generation has been pulsing spikes to about 1,000 cfs to increase dissolved oxygen. Low DO levels can hamper fishing with lethargic fish. The COE continues to pulse water 1-2 times a day for 1-4 hours. There’s good low water wade fishing between pulses. Nymphing continues to produce good numbers of fish. Scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges, pheasant tails, worm and egg patterns are all producing.

Northwest Arkansas


Beaver Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,119.87 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. Check several spots throughout the day as Beaver Lake Striper are avoiding runoff and looking for clearer water. Beaver lake striper will be fairly active with striper taken on live shad fished on free lines 150 feet behind the boat and on lightly weighted balloon lines trolled 50-100 feet behind the boat set 10 to 25 feet deep. 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. Live shad in the 4- to 8-inch range are working well. The stripers are moving uplake. Stripers are being taken around Point 4, Lost Bridge South and the gravel bars near Point 5. Fishing has been fair in the Big Clifty arm. Stripers are biting fairly well in the deep water near the road bed in front of the marina in Rocky Branch. They are also showing up in Copper Mine and Larue around Cedar Creek, Ford Creek and Goat Island. Prairie Creek may be the best bet lately to avoid the muddy water and find active fish. Walleye are about 10 to 20 feet deep around points and islands near Rocky Branch, Prairie Creek and points 12, 9, 8 and 7. Flat-line trolling Hot-N-Tots, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners and Ripstiks in blue, black back, clown or chartreuse/orange is working well. Jigging spoons fished around brush and rocks also are working.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass can be caught using a hula grub or jig with a craw trailer around docks or timber along sloping chunk rock banks. Another option is to use a ½-oz. jigging spoon around pole timber in 20 to 45 feet of water along channels. Crappie fishing has been hit or miss. The best option has been to use either a live minnow or a pink/white or black/green tube on a 1/16-oz. jig head around brush or timber close to a channel in 15 to 35 feet of water. Fish have been holding very tight to the structure. Monte-Ne and Blue Springs have been good places to fish. White bass have been thick in Prairie Creek and Monte-Ne. They can be picked off by slow trolling a Bandit or Hot-N-Tot crankbait. Catfishing has been good from the bank late in the day using worms or liver. Highway 12 and 412 bridge accesses have both been good places to fish.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are slow on minnows. Bass are biting well on Wiggle Warts and jigs fished around 10 to 15 feet of water. Stripers are biting well on large minnows. Catfishing and walleye are slow.

Beaver Tailwater

Just Fishing Guides said there’s plenty of low water for wade fishing. Indicator nymphing continues to be the most consistent method for catching fish. Sow bugs, scuds, pheasant tails and egg patterns are all producing. Around mid-morning, try emerger/pupae patterns such as Partridge and Quill soft hackles, zebra midges and Parachute Adams in sizes 18-22.

Lake Elmdale

Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said fishing has slowed with the bad weather. High winds and cold drizzle made it hard to fish Monday, but two anglers said they caught a 5 lb. 2 oz. black bass, and two other good keepers using a green jig with a green trailer. No reports of any crappie being caught, but a few people are trolling for them. Shiners or crappie jigs, tipped with a nibble, fished 12 feet deep, would be the most productive method. Lake levels remain above average. Water clarity is slightly dingy from the wind.

Kings River

Just Fishing Guides said the river gauge near Grandview is reading 3.23 feet and 212 cfs. Water temperatures are hitting near 60 in the afternoon. Best fishing times are later as the water heats up. Fishing is good for fly-anglers using Clousers, sparkle grubs, rubber leg woolly buggers and various poppers and sliders like sneaky petes and rabbit tail sliders in black, yellow and white. Spin fisherman are catching fish with tubes, lizards and baby brush hogs. With the water temperatures falling, make sure you are fishing deep and slow.

Lake Fayetteville

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is at normal level and is slightly murky. Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock will be closed Dec. 3-Jan. 15.

Lake Sequoyah

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs in 2 to 8 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. No report on catfish or bream.

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 fishing.

Lake Frierson

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

Spring River

Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 360 cfs, and water clarity is mostly clear. Cooler weather has the big trout feeding. Big Y2K bugs and woolly buggers are the ticket for bigger trout. White and red Trout Magnets have been hot. Trout can be spawning at this time of year, so watch where you step and practice catch-and-release.

Southeast Arkansas


Lake Chicot

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 said fishing has slowed on Cane Creek. Folks are still catching some crappie, but not as many as in October. Catfishing is still good on both rod-and-reel and trotlines. Set your lines in the dead timber where the cormorants roost.

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 water rose dramatically last week, and is only 18 inches below normal pool. The discharge at the dam was 9,530 cfs on Monday. Use extreme caution navigating the lake as there is much debris in the water and the boat lanes are still too shallow to safely run on pad. Surface water temperatures dropped to 53-57 degrees. 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 crankbait bite over the last several weeks disappeared with all the incoming rising and muddy water. The only significant bite has been early to mid-afternoon, most locations lake-wide. Largemouth bass which were following very large schools of shad have scattered and gone deep with the increase in current, and rapidly rising muddy water. White bass and spotted bass also disappeared with the recent influx of muddy water. The increase of current and muddy water shut off the crappie bite as well. The crappie were biting good on jigging tiny hair jigs and also hitting minnows, in the clearest water you can locate from around 10 a.m. until early afternoon. Catfishing is good on trotlines, yo-yos and tight lines along current breaks in the outer bends of Little River. Blues and channel cats were biting Catfish Charlie, cut shad and chicken livers in 15-20 feet of water in Little River.

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 544.12 MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL). Lakeside Grocery and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is high and murky in the shallows. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Stripers and white bass are biting well on crankbaits and spoons early in the mornings. Bass are biting well along rocky points and banks on soft-plastic worms and crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on worms and chicken livers.

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 401.13 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the afternoon surface water temperature is in the high 50s, and the lake is clear up to Point 28. The rain and cold have slowed both the fishing and fishermen. There have been only a few reports of bass being taken off deep points and ledges at mid lake. The best pattern is a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard fished from 15 to 30 feet down steep ledges. Darker colors such as green pumpkin, and red shad work best in the deep water. Look for fish in the Caddo Drive/Arlie Moore area. No reports from farther uplake. Now is the time to fish a jigging spoon on the ledges and creek channels. A good place to start is Big Hill Creek because there are lots of steep ledges along the old creek channel. Use a 1-ounce white spoon and fish it close to the bottom. Crappie fishing has slowed with the drop in water temperature. A few fish are being caught off deep (24 to 28 feet) brush at mid lake. Use a 2-inch Tennessee shad grub on a 1/16-ounce chartreuse jig head and fish vertically as close to the brush as possible. Fish over the thickest part of the cover with very little jig movement. The best areas for crappies are from Edgewood to Caddo Drive. Many bream are in the brush attractors, tight line a worm or cricket on the edges and just above the cover. Most any deep brush cover will hold bream. Nothing on hybrids right now, but the next hybrid action will be around Shouse Ford starting in mid-December if the water is not too muddy. No reports on catfish.
West-Central Arkansas


Lake Nimrod

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 363.02 feet MSL.

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said the water is stained. Crappie are biting well in the upper river 9 to 11 feet deep. Bream are slow.

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)

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

Fourche La Fave River

Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said catfish are biting on stinkbait and chicken liver in the river. No report on any other species.

Lake Hinkle

Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) said the water is clear and high. No report on the fishing.

Lake Dardanelle

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said fishing has been great in our area over the last few days. Crappie anglers are reporting limits on red/white and red/clear jigs. Minnow fishermen are reporting catching twice their daily limit and culling the smaller ones. The yellow bass have been biting the crappie rigs the last couple of days, and that is usually a sign that we’ll see bigger crappie soon. Catfish anglers are reporting limits, as long as you are willing to settle for one or two channels in the mix. Shad have been hard to find again, so we are seeing use of bass minnows and worms increase. No report on bass.

Blue Mountain Lake

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 404.30 feet MSL.

Lake Ouachita

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 577.54 MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said stripers are fair with many fish shallow in the backs of creeks. Jerk baits and swimbaits are producing well on stripers. Bass fishing is good with a lot of breaking action around small points in the creeks.

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports had no report.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is 58 to 62 degrees and stained. Largemouth bass are biting well on watermelon seed jig head worms. Spotted bass are excellent on finesse worms drop-shotted in 20 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are fair on bottom bouncer jigs and spoons and on deep-diving crankbaits trolled 25 to 35 feet deep around brush. Stripers are being caught with live bait and hair jigs and crankbaits trolled 18 to 25 feet deep. Top water reports are picking up with Spooks and C-10 Redfins.
Crappie are biting well near and over brush in 12 to 20 feet of water on minnows and Tennessee shad or rainbow trout colored crappie grubs. Catfishing is good on cut bait and live bait on jugs and trotlines fished 20 to 30 feet deep.
.

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 conditions below Carpenter Dam have returned to normal after flooding caused Entergy to issue a high-water event. Water temperature has fallen to 49 degrees in the tailrace. Cold temperatures retard moss growth and provide a perfect environment for rainbow trout. Trout are now in the tailrace. Bank anglers are catching trout on wax worms, corn or redworms floated just off the bottom with marshmallows. Nightcrawlers cut in small pieces fished under a bobber will also attract hungry trout. Fly fishermen are able to wade to areas that hold trout and are having success casting egg patterns and San Juan worms in red or hot pink and on micro jigs in yellow/black. Spin fishermen have taken the most trout by casting white or silver Rooster Tails and Super Dupers near current. White bass and crappie are now in the tailrace and are being caught on jerk baits and jigs around rock structure or over deep water around the bridge. Striper activity has been spotty with a few large single fish breaking the surface below the bridge in the main channel. More bass will be present as the trout stocking schedule becomes regular. Brood or gizzard shad fished with a balloon rig give anglers the best chance to hook a fish over 20 pounds. C-10 Redfins in trout colors will draw vicious strikes as well.

Lake Atkins

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said crappie are still being caught well on jigs and minnows. Bream are biting fairly well on worms. Bass are slow. Catfishing is fair. A few white bass have been caught as well. The lake rose quickly with the 5 inches of rain that fell Monday night.

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 the water is clear and at normal level. Bream and catfish have been slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around structure. Bass are fair on crappie jigs.

Storm Creek Lake

Mississippi River State Park said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream and catfish have been slow. Bass are fair on shallow-running crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in about 2 to 5 feet of water.

White River

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is high and muddy.

Maddox Bay

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

Horseshoe Lake

Local angler Clyde Gregory had no report.