August 12, 2009 Edition

Fishing Tip: It’s hopper season for trout in Arkansas’s tailwater areas. Cast a foam hopper pattern under low-hanging limbs or near streamside vegetation. There’s no need to be delicate with a hopper. Fish will be attracted to the splash. This is some of the most exciting dry fly fishing you can find, as the trout will rise and hit surface lures with violent zeal.

Arkansas River Levels are available at:
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Reports/Daily/Pao_rvrs.txt

White River Levels are available at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_white.shtml

Central Arkansas

Lake Conway:

Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 31/2 feet of water. Crappie are poor, but a few have been caught on minnows and jigs in 8 feet of water near channels. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and soft-plastic worms; they are in typical summer patterns. Catfishing is fair on shiners.    

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said bream have been hitting well on crickets and wax worms fished 1 to 2 ½ feet deep. Bass are doing fairly well early and late in the day. Crappie have been slow, but some nice fish have been picked up around cypress trees near creek channels. Catfishing is good.  

Little Red River: 

Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low, with generators running from 1 to 4 p.m. Trout fishing is good on spinners and crankbaits fished around any cover from the current when it’s running.   

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said water releases at Greers Ferry continue every afternoon. Hydroelectric power generation is now determining the releases instead of the lowering of the high lake level. You can wade fish all morning at JFK Park near the dam, at Cow Shoal until around 4 p.m., until around 6 p.m. at Winkley Shoal and until dark at Libby Shoal. Last Sunday, releases occurred as late as 5 p.m. with only one generator operating for 2 hours. The temperature of the water coursing through the turbines is 54 degrees with dissolved oxygen level of 7.7 mg/l. Aquatic insect hatches are slowing as summer wanes. Most days, the only bugs coming off are blue winged olive mayflies and midges. The best time to tempt fate with a dry fly is during an active hatch with spinners (adult bugs) on the wing. At that time, try an Adams (size 18), bwo (size 18-20), hopper pattern (size 10) and midge (size 22-32; cream). Other flies to try include the lowly but abundant sow bug (size 14-16; smoky olive or tan), zebra midge (size 16-22; red, copper or black), red butt soft hackle emerger (size 14-18), copper john (size 14-16; red, green or copper), San Juan worm (size 14; red, fl. cerise, hot pink or worm brown) and woolly bugger (size 8-12; olive, brown or black).  

Greers Ferry:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 461.37 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling with generation every afternoon. White bass and hybrids continue to schooling in the mornings and afternoons in various spots all over the lake they could come up at any place or any time. Try to keep your electronics turned off when looking for schoolers as it will bother them and especially if a lot of boats are around it will keep them very leery. When they go down, try spoons, inline spinners and hair jigs. Bass fishing is good night and day, on and around brush piles anywhere from 15-45 feet of water on Texas-rigged worms, Carolina rigs and football heads, try buzzbaits and topwaters as well as spinnerbaits early and late and at night. Crappie are suspended and biting fairly well on minnows and jigs over brush piles and pole timber in 15-40 feet of water and at night, use lights in pole timber with minnows. Walleye are slow. Bream just spawned again and will be headed out to deep water; try 20 to 30 feet deep with crawlers and crickets. Catfish are excellent.   

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) had no report.  

Harris Brake Lake:  

Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said no one is fishing because the lake is being drawn down.  

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said fishing is off some as the water is dropping. Bream are still biting crickets, but it’s slow.  

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park): 

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream and redear are biting very well on crickets and night crawlers. Many anglers are catching their limits before noon in the lily pads.    

Lake Overcup:  

Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is high. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is fair on worms and chicken liver. Bass are slow.    

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and 80-90 degrees. Bream are fair on worms and crickets fished around brush as shallow as 1 foot deep. Crappie are fair on minnows fished in brush 20 feet deep. Bass are slow, but a few have come on spinnerbaits fished around brush tops in 12 feet of water.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are fair on worms and crickets fished around brush piles. Crappie are fair in 20 feet of water on minnows. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits worked through shallow brush. Catfishing is fair on worms.   

Lake Maumelle: 

Jolly Roger’s Marina  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 at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Catfish are fair on Magic Bait. All other species are slow.  

Saline River Access in Benton: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on Rebel Crawdad crankbaits. Catfishing and crappie fishing are slow.     

Arkansas River at Morrilton: 

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said Kentucky bass are beginning to bite a little better on the backside of main river jetties when there’s flow. Blue Herring-colored War Eagle spinnerbaits are working well. Largemouth bass are biting fairly well around the first patches of grass near riprap on chatterbaits and buzzing toads. Let the toad drift down once it’s cleared the grass, and you should score a few extra strikes. Catfishing is good late in the evening on shad fished in areas where the Corps has just dredged. White bass are schooling in the late evenings around Coppers Gap and Flagg Lake. Bream are biting well around riprap on the backside of jetties.  

Arkansas River at Little Rock:  

Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said fishing is slow for all species except catfish. Bass are slow on crankbaits and craw worms on jetties and sand bar drops. Catfishing is best on cut bait.

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

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) had no report.     

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) had no report.   

Peckerwood Lake: 

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear. Bream are biting fairly well around stumps on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well around brush piles in deep water on jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on stink bait, shrimp and liver.   

Lake Pickthorne: 

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

North Arkansas

White River: 

Mountain River Fly Shop said the White River has been running under a unit of water overnight the past few days opening up some wading water for a few hours downstream. But the big news looks to be a possible go ahead on habitat work below Bull Shoals Dam and some resulting low water next week. Despite the unseasonal summer rain the system is will be at conservation pool tomorrow. The low-water fishing has been very good, with midges, sow bugs and scuds doing well in the mornings. Higher flows in the afternoon mean shifting to eggs and worms or streamers.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern on the White was for round-the-clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and limited wade fishing. The AGFC and Corps of Engineers was scheduled to begin installing fish habitat in the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam on or around August 1, but the project has been postponed until August 17, in order for the lakes to be drawn down. This work will be done at low water levels and should take about two months to complete. It should provide some wadable water on the White River during this time. Fishing in the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been quite good for the last week. Early in the day we have had some low flows that have fished particularly well. Midge patterns have been the ticket on low flows. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. Rim Shoals has been red hot this past week. The lower flows have lasted until mid afternoon and have been fishing particularly well. As the flows increase, the action has moved to the lower section of the area, White Shoals. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in cerise and hot pink. This is the one place that has wadable water as long as the flows are below 17,000 cubic feet per second. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout Dock and take advantage of their water taxi. For a nominal fee, they will drop you off at wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to leave.

Sportsman’s White River Resort  (870-453-2424) said the water clarity is good. Trout are biting well. Five fish over 5 pounds and one fish over 10 pounds have been caught and released in the last few days. Fly anglers are doing best on hopper patterns and on pink or red San Juan worms.     

White River (From Buffalo City to Norfork):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said Power Baits are still the quickest way to catch your fish. Chartreuse/white or the standard hot pink are best. Keep it on the bottom and be alert. The fish have been plentiful, but have been biting short as of late. You catch most every fish right on the tip of their lips.     

White River (From Norfork to Calico Rock):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said Power Bait fished near the bottom is working in this area. However, be sure to fish prior to noon. Once the Norfork generation water hits the White River and the sun gets overhead, the fishing slows down dramatically. A Black/Gold/White Rapala will work as well, but you have to fish a lot of bank until you run into active fish.   

Crooked Creek: 

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared some and are fishing well. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows, Barr’s Meat whistles and large woolly buggers. If we get much rain, these streams muddy and rise quickly.  

Bull Shoals Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.97 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: 

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 553.72 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait  said the surface water temperature is in the low 90s. The thermocline is around 30 feet deep, and that’s where the fish are hanging out. Crappie fishing is good around brush in 30 feet of water on minnows. Bluegill fishing is good on worms and crickets. Walleye fishing has been good jigging a spoon in 25-30 feet of water. Bass fishing is good on Carolina-rigged and Texas-rigged lizards. White bass fishing is good. Catfishing is fair. Striper fishing is slow. 

Norfork Tailwater: 

Mountain River Fly Shop said the Norfork tailwater has a good supply of wadable water every day. We have heard good reports from woolly buggers stripped across the current, as well as soft hackles. 

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Norfork has fished a bit better this week. We have been getting a substantial period of wadable water daily. Generation for the rest of the day was near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. Try black zebra midges or partridge and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Grasshoppers have also been producing. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator.    

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,121.44 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting well in the early morning on buzzbaits and poppers close to fallen trees. A hula grub worked slowly along fallen trees and docks also has been effective. Crappie have been biting well around brush piles 15 to 30 feet deep along bluff lines and under docks. Minnows have been the best bait choice. White bass have been schooling early and late in the day along flats all over the lake. Small shad-imitating baits have worked best. Catfishing has been good from the bank using liver or worms in Monte-NE and at the Highway 12 Bridge after dark.  

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and the surface temperature is 85 degrees. Bream are fair on worms fished around brush piles. Crappie are fair around brush in 5 to 15 feet of water. Bass are fair on top-water lures early, then spoons and soft-plastics later in the day. Catfishing is good on live bream and goldfish.   

Beaver Tailwaters: 

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said water releases have made the tailwaters very hard to fish. There have been times of low water for a few hours when fishing has been good, but wading during release is not recommended. The drawdown has been slowing from the 24/7 plan over the last few days. Schedule looks like there will be low or no releases during the mornings. Fish should be fat after feeding during the releases. Scuds and sow bugs will have been worked loose by the higher water movement and trout should be keying in on those. Also with the summer months, midge hatches are an everyday occurrence. Copper johns and hares ear nymphs are good representations of dead or dying insects, so always keep these handy.   

Kings River:

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said water has slowly been dropping since the beginning of August. A few sparse rain showers have helped with being floatable, but it’s still a little low. Fish tend to be very spooky and holding in very deep holes. Best fishing is morning or evening. For the fly angler, terrestrials and poppers are working great, as well as crayfish patterns and olive/white Clouser minnows. Worms and lizards in watermelon or pumpkinseed bounced along the bottom, or hellgramite and stick baits fished very deep for spin tackle. Fish the shady spots in between rapids and also where the river changes from gravel to rocky bottom.  

Lake Fayetteville: 

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water and weather are still very hot. Fishing has been slow for all species. Some bluegill were caught on crickets in shallow water next to deeper drops. Crappie are fair around stumps on minnows. Bass are slow on spinnerbaits fished slowly in 15 to 20 feet of water.  

Lake Sequoyah: 

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is 89 to 90 degrees and is at normal levels. Bream are slow in 5 feet of water on crickets fished near brush piles. Crappie are slow in 8-10 feet of water on minnows fished near stumps. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms worked around brush in 8 feet of water. Catfishing is slow, but some have been caught on chicken liver, shad and goldfish. Overall, fishing has not been very good.  

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake: 

Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and nightcrawlers. All other species are slow.    

Lake Frierson: 

Lake Frierson State Park  said the water is muddy and at normal level. Bream are excellent on nightcrawlers fished in coves. Crappie are slow. Bass are slow. Catfishing is good on chicken livers and nightcrawlers near the main channel.     

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said water levels are at normal and the water has a green tint to it. Fishing has been best with dark and bright patterns like black/white woolly buggers. Cotton candy flies have been very productive also. Smallmouth bass have been biting well on minnow and streamer patterns.   

Southeast Arkansas

Lake Chicot: 

Lakeshore Motel and Marina  (870-265-9901) had no report.  

Lake Monticello: 

Fishing guide Greg Gulledge (870-723-3928) of MonticelloBigBass.com said the surface temperature is still on the rise and there are still a few bass to catch. Early and late seem to be the best times. Schooling activity is hit-or-miss, but if you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you can clean up in a hurry. Schooling fish are biting Lucky Craft Sammys and swim baits. The worm bite in 8 to 16 feet on the drops is by far the most dependable bite going. Dark-colored worms seem to be the bait of choice. There has been a report or two of some deeper fish in the 20-foot-plus depths on plastics and jigs. There are some really nice bass being caught right now. Unless you get around the schooling, the fishing is not fast, but the quality is worth the wait.  

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 256.71 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service  said as of Monday, surface water temperatures are in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Some schooling bass are being caught in Little River during the last several weeks. Largemouth bass ranging from 2-9 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Buzzbaits, Baby Torpedoes, Pop-R's, Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, and plastic frogs are the go-to baits the past several weeks. Exercise extreme caution throughout the lake and river as there are still many river buoys missing or out of place. The lake is in the middle of a scheduled 4-foot drawdown to last until February. Yarborough Landing is still open, although extremely shallow. Other ramps operated by the USACE are also shallow. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown. Main lake visibility is approx 3 to 5 inches away from any current in Little River. River clarity is 2-5 inches due to current. The best bass bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight until about 10 or 11 a.m., and again from 6 to 8 p.m. on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Shad Daddy, and transparent colors. Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around grassy areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads. Clear Baby Torpedoes, Rat-L-Traps, and Pop Rs are working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation. Schooling white bass disappeared over the past week. The crappie bite is still slow due to muddy water and current. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, and live shiners were the best lures and baits over past couple weeks in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17-25 feet of water near deep creek channels and Little River. Channel catfish continue biting well on cut shad, hot dogs, Charlie and chicken livers fished 8 to 12 feet deep in oxbows near the main river current.

White Oak Lake: 

Local angler John Tilley said the rain came, but the water level dropped quickly and clarity is back to normal. Surface water temperature is 87 deg. Bream are still biting well on crickets with larger males still guarding a few beds. Some crappie are being caught in deeper water using jigs and minnows. Bass fishing is slow with the best bite at night. No report on catfish. 

Lake Greeson: 

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the lake level is falling and the water temperature is rising. Crappie, catfish and bass are still being caught shallower than normal for this time of year. Stripers are being caught deep. Good reports on catfishing have come in from anglers using trotlines with cut bait.     

Cossatot River: 

Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park had no report.     

DeGray Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 405.75 feet MSL.

Local angler George Graves said the surface water temperature is in the mid-80s and the water is clear. Fishing has slowed considerably this week. Higher, cooler water has scattered both the bait and the fish. Hybrid fishing has been slow at best. The schools that were off DeRoche Ridge have scattered with only a few fish being reported. The best bet is still in deep water (80 to 100 feet) over submerged timber. Use either a jigging spoon or live bait fished about 30 feet down. Bass fishing has also been slow. A few are being taken fishing shallow on main lake points early in the morning. Some fish are in as little as 2 feet of water. Try the lower lake on the south side of the State Park. Crappie are slow but a few fish are still being taken in brush about 20 feet deep. Use either a 2-inch Tennessee Shad grub or live minnows. Fish about 15 feet deep, above the brush or bamboo. Try between Caddo Drive and Yancey Creek. Bream fishing remains fair on worms and crickets. Try most any secondary point in water between 8 and 15 feet. The lake is loaded with catfish noodles, but there’s no report of any catfish being caught. 

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Nimrod: 

Lake Nimrod Bait and More II (479-272-4025) had no report.  

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bass and crappie are fair on small spinnerbaits. Some bass are being caught on Texas-rigged brush hogs as well    

Lake Dardanelle: 

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said fishing has been tough on Lake Dardanelle. Catfish have been slower than usual, with many fishermen who are used to catching limits reporting four or five fish per trip. Shad have been nearly impossible to find. Danny King’s blood bait is the preferred bait, with bass minnows running a close second. Bass have been slow; local honey holes are producing best results and we have seen a few nice 4 and 5 pounders. FLW tournament pros have been fishing the lake pretty hard, and will continue through this weekend. The water has come up slightly due to rain, but the temperature remains high the best bite is still early mornings and late evenings.      

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 385.34 feet MSL.

Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said the water is at normal levels and the clarity is good. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on worms at the spillway area. No report on any other species.

Ozark Pool: 

Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said bream are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished deep. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and Carolina-rigged Baby Brush Hogs. Catfishing is good on minnows and nightcrawlers. Stripers are slow, but a few have been caught on hair jigs below the generators.     

Lake Ouachita:  

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said striper fishing is excellent. Bass fishing is a little slow with some nice fish being caught early on top-water lures and spinnerbaits.

Mountain Harbor Resort  said the lake level is 573.98 and the water is clearing; the water temperature fluctuates between 86-90 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well. These fish can be caught with big Texas-rigged worms fished in brush piles in 18 to 25 feet of water. Ole Monsters and paddle worms in watermelon/red, bloodline and red shad are the best baits. Walleye are biting well on bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses on main lake points or humps near deep water in depths of 16 to 24 feet. Jigging spoons are working well on suspended fish in the same areas. Stripers are still good on live shad or trotline minnows. Main lake points near creek channels or open water humps are the best areas. The east end of the lake — from point 3 to the dam — seems to be the best area. Bream are biting very well on worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are fair and being caught near brush or over moss. Try brush in water 20 to 30 feet deep and moss flats 20 to 25 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Tennessee shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits. Catfish are biting well on cut and live bait on jug lines and trotlines.   

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports  had no new report.

Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said striper fishing has been good lately. The fish are running deep over open water suspended in the 40- to 70-foot range. Live shad are producing very well. The intake at the dam is a good place to start. Trolling umbrella rigs and plugs near Yorktown Bay and the State Park is working as well. The only trouble has been keeping the fish out of the trees once you hook up.  

Lake Hamilton: 

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports  had no new report.    

Lake Catherine: 

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said water clarity has improved below Carpenter Dam and flows have subsided to normal levels. Water temperatures remain the low 60s from the bridge to Carpenter Dam. While there is a good deal of moss within several feet of the bank, the overall growth in the main channels may be at an all time low which is good news for anglers. Rainbow trout fishing is extremely slow, but the few fish that are caught are 15 to 18 inches in length. The key to hooking quality trout in the summer centers on using live baits in areas where fish move from deep to shallow water to feed. Nightcrawlers and redworms are a mainstay for trout, as well as wax worms and meal worms. August and September are traditionally excellent times for schooling stripers and hybrids. Top-water action can be vicious as big stripers feed on trout and shad in shallow water. C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks cast into the schools consistently hook fish with large soft plastics working well when stripers refuse hard-sided baits. Gizzard shad fished under a balloon is the best live bait technique for anglers looking to take trophy fish.    

Lake Hinkle:  

Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is at normal level and clear. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow on minnows fished in the deeper water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and bass minnows. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver from the bank.   

Lake Atkins: 

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said all species are fair. The lake is in typical summer patterns.  

South Central Arkansas

Moro Bay: 

Moro Bay State Park  at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay said recent rains have brought the river level up. Fishing has slowed considerably. However, bass fishing in areas where baitfish congregate can be very rewarding. A few such areas exist in Raymond Lake and Moro Bay. Catfishing can be good when the water is high. If you’re tight-lining, a large weight is necessary to keep bait on the bottom. If you’re fishing with a trotline, constant monitoring and adjusting to the water level are necessary. Crappie and bream are hard to catch in high water, but occasionally good numbers can be caught from the bank using crickets.   

Tri-County Lake: 

Not many anglers are on the lake. No report.  

Ouachita River Oxbows: 

No report.

East Arkansas

Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:  

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is clearing up. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are slow, but a few have been caught on shiners in 18 to 20 feet of water. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on skipjack and worms.     

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is clear, but the level and temperature are up and down daily. Bream are biting well on crickets fished around brush piles. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair on soft-plastics fished around rocky cover. Catfishing is slow.      

Maddox Bay: 

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had no report.  

Island 40 Chute: 

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is lower than normal for summer. All species are slow. Some crappie have been caught on minnows, and some catfish have been caught on stink bait and liver. An occasional bass has been caught on a spinnerbait.  

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water clarity is good and the water is at normal levels. The lake is beautiful. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished around shallow cypress trees. Crappie are slow, but a few are being caught on minnows fished next to deep piers. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits fished on the outside edge of lily pads near deeper water. Catfishing is good in deep water on cut bait and night crawlers.