August 26, 2009 Edition

Fishing Tip: Want to know what the fisheries division has been up to in your neck of the woods? Check out their quarterly newsletters here: http://www.agfc.com/data-facts-maps/publications/agfc-newsletters/fisheries-division-quarterly-newsletter.aspx .

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, for Conway. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets fished under a cork near brush and stumps. Catfishing is good on trotlines baited with green sunfish. Rod-and-reel anglers are also catching catfish on chicken livers, nightcrawlers and shrimp.    

Dan at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said fishing is fair for all species.   

Little Red River: 

Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is low with a slight stain to it. The power house has been running one generator for an hour or two at 2 or 3 p.m. daily. Trout are biting well on yellow or white Power Eggs, wax worms floated with a marshmallow, moldable Power Bait, spoons and marabou jigs.   

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said water releases at Greers Ferry continue to be small, daily and after lunch. This protocol makes wade fishing possible at most locations on the Little Red River. The water is clear and cold and the trout want to play. Aquatic insect hatches are small, daily and include mostly midges and BWOs. Good dry flies to try include midge (size 22-32; cream), Adams (size 18-20), blue-winged olive (size 18), hoppers (size 10) or crackleback (size 14). Sub-surface offerings should include sow bug (sizes 14-16; UV tan, UV light gray, smoky olive or peacock), San Juan worms (size 14; fl cerise, hot pink or red), zebra midge (sizes 16-22; red, black or copper), red butt soft hackle (sizes 14-18) or woolly bugger (sizes 8-12; olive, brown or black).   

Greers Ferry:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 460.56 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level and water temperature are both falling. Many black bass are moving shallow. The shallow fish are biting well on jigs and top-water lures, while those holding deeper are still biting well on football head jigs, Texas-rigged worms and Carolina-rigged lizards. Walleye should be getting better with the colder weather; try dragging nightcrawlers in 23-27 feet of water or troll crankbaits for the suspended fish. During the first few cold fronts, it will be tough on the bite but it should get better very soon. Bream are eating crawlers and crickets anywhere from the bank to about 24 feet deep. Try tightlining a worm in deeper water instead of messing with a slip cork or bobber. Catfishing is still good; try jugs set at 15 to 20 feet deep over 30 to 40 feet of water on the sides of channels. Bream, soap and just about any prepared bait will work. Hybrids and whites are still schooling quite a bit, but the most consistent bite is deeper on points and structure with spoons and in-line spinners. The night bite is fading, but the daytime bite should get better every day.   

Shiloh Marina (501-825-6237) said the water is clear. Bream are biting well. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Black bass are biting well. Hybrid bass and white bass are schooling at the surface around the lake. Catfishing is good.  

Harris Brake Lake:  

Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said no one is fishing because the lake is being drawn down and will remain so until Dec. 12th.  

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said fishing is slow for all species because of the low water level.  

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean State Park): 

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) had no report.     

Lake Overcup:  

Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets, with a few being caught on redworms. Most bream are against the bank. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows fished around brush and stumps. Bass are slow. Catfish are fair on goldfish and crayfish.    

Overcup Landing  (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and 85 to 90 degrees. Bream are biting well on redworms and crickets near brush. Crappie are fair on brown jigs fished in open water 10 feet deep. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits fished near the bank. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.

Brewer Lake:  

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets near the bank. Crappie are fair on small minnows fished around brush in 15 feet of water. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits fished around brush tops. Catfishing is good on cut bait and small green sunfish.   

Lake Maumelle: 

Jolly Roger’s Marina had no report.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting very well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on cut shad and large minnows.     

Lake Valencia: 

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is stained. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on stink bait and nightcrawlers.   

Sunset Lake: 

Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on 2-inch Tennessee shad-colored grubs. Bass are excellent on top-water lures in the mornings. Catfishing is fair.  

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 in swift water on black Roostertails. Crappie are slow. Bass are fair on top-water lures in the early morning. Catfishing is fair on live bait.     

Arkansas River at Morrilton:

Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfishing is excellent in 15 to 35 feet of water on whole shad. Stripers are biting well below the dam late in the evenings when the generators are turning. Most are being caught about 6 feet deep on shad drifted under a float. White bass are biting well around sand bars in the mornings; pearl-colored Model A’s are working the best. Black bass are biting fairly well around wood and grass early in the morning. Buzzbaits are working around the cover early, then Pearl-colored Rapala crankbaits and spinnerbaits are working around jetties. Bram are biting well on the back side of jetties on Mepps spinners in black. Crappie are fair on minnows fished next to wood cover in 10 to 15 feet of water out of any current.  

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool):

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets in the Little Maumelle River, but biting better on redworms in the Maumelle River and Palarm Creek. Crappie are slow everywhere. Bass are biting well in the Little Maumelle on spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Bass in the Maumelle River are biting almost solely on soft plastics. Bass around Palarm Creek are biting well, but only on live minnows. Catfishing is good on large shad, minnows, and nightcrawlers.  

Arkansas River at Little Rock:  

Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said the water is stained and at normal levels. Catfishing is good on shad and cut bait. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and jigs. Spotted bass seem to be biting better than the largemouths. No report on crappie or bream.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on redworms around Burns Park, Fourche Creek and Murray Lock and Dam. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits near any junction of the main channel and backwater areas. Catfishing is good on cut shad and large minnows.

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is high and the current is flowing through Terry Lock and Dam. Bream are fair on worms. Crappie are slow. Bass are slow, but a few were caught on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on skipjacks below the dam.     

Clear Lake: 

McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around brush. Bass are biting well on top-water lures. Catfishing is fair on nightcrawlers.   

Peckerwood Lake: 

Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is high and clear. Bream are biting well. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished in 4 to 8 feet of water around stick ups. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Catfishing is good on stink bait and liver. .   

Lake Pickthorne:

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said the water is stained. Bream are biting well on redworms. Crappie are slow. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.  

North Arkansas

White River: 

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern on the White has been for no generation in the morning and occasionally no generation at night. The flows have been heavy in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for drift and wade fishing. Fishing in the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been quite good. Periods of no generation each morning have fished particularly well. The trick is to avoid the areas where the construction is active. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. 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. Be very careful when drifting in this area. There are some significant obstacles to navigation (the new habitat) that were not here last week. Wildcat Shoals has been another hot spot. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Rim Shoals has been extremely productive this past week. The lower flows, which lasted until late afternoon, have been fishing particularly well and we have had some days with wadable water. The hot fly has been the zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size 16. The lower flows have also been near perfect for fishing grasshoppers. The trout are certainly looking up and keying in on these large morsels. Try Dave’s hoppers in size 10 or Rainey’s hoppers in size 8.  

Sportsman’s White River Resort  (870-453-2424) said the water is low, with generation shut down from late evening to noon. Trout are biting well on small flies and artificials.     

White River (From Buffalo City to Red’s Landing):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the water levels have remained relatively low for the last week. The fish have responded very well with many trout being caught. Power Bait, White River Zig Jigs and Blue Fox spinners in no. 2 or 3 in gold or silver have all been producing well. With lower water as well as less surface area the fish are easier to find and they gang up in certain runs or shoals.      

White River (From Norfork to Calico Rock):

Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing has been good as long as you fish primarily in the mornings. After noon the fishing slows and they are not as active. White River Zig Jigs have been doing very good as well as the standby Rapala. When the generation from the Norfork hits the White River at about 1 or 2 p.m., the bite gets worse.    

Crooked Creek: 

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are a bit muddy and still need some time to clear.

Ken Richards at Justfishinguides.com said smallmouth are biting well for both spin-fishermen and fly-fishermen. Spin fishing with 4-inch lizards and baby brush hogs in green pumpkinseed worked the best. The best flies were Ozark Creek clouser, crazy dads and Kevin's rubber leg olive bunny darter. The water is still in good shape with good flows.

Bull Shoals Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.76 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.86 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).

101 Grocery and Bait  said the surface water temperature is in the mid-80s. Crappie fishing is fair in 15-20 of water around the brush piles on live bait. Striper fishing is good in the mornings, and a few are being caught in the evenings using live bait and Roadrunners. Walleye fishing has been fair using a spoon in 40-50 feet of water, some days they will have lock jaw. Bass fishing has been good for some using a spoon or jighead worm in 40 feet of water. Bream fishing is good using worms, crickets and wax worms in most coves. White bass fishing is good using Rooster Tails and small spinnerbaits, but finding them is the challenge. Catfishing has been good using worms. 

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 generation on the Norfork has declined significantly, which has created some quality wading. The Norfork River has fished a bit better. We have been getting a substantial period of wadable water daily. With wadable water on the White, the crowding here has decreased. Generation for the rest of the day was near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have also been effective. Grasshoppers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator. Dry Run Creek fished well. The hot fly, as always, has been the sow bug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). If possible, have your child wear waders (you can rent a pair for a modest fee at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop).    

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,119.97 feet MSL.

JT’s Crappie Guide Service  (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has improved. During the day, try a buzzbait early and late around laydown trees and brush. Later in the day, a Carolina-rigged worm has worked. Fish over main-lake and secondary points 10 to 20 feet down. At night, try a dark-colored hula grub fished on shallow gravel banks. Crappie fishing has been good early and late by using small black/chartreuse tubes around brush piles in 15 to 30 feet of water. Fish have not been too far off the bottom. White bass have been boiling all over the lake early and late and can be caught on 1/8-oz. Kastmaster spoons. Bluegill fishing has been excellent using crickets around docks, laydown trees and large rocks 2 to 6 feet deep.  

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is clear and 80 degrees. Fishing has been pretty slow overall. Bream are fair. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs in 15 feet of water. White bass are breaking early in the morning and late in the evening. Black bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits, top-water lures and spoons near deep water. Catfishing is good on juglines and trotlines baited wit live bait.   

Beaver Tailwaters: 

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said the water level is still up due to Table Rock still being high, there is very little flow, making drifts difficult. The flies working have been small in the shallow areas. Midges are working well in sizes 18-22. In the deeper spots, larger flies (size 12-14) are best. Copper johns, sow bugs, beadhead midges and olive woolly buggers are the ticket. During water releases, bigger streamers and attractor nymphs are working. Some bigger browns are being caught on big crankbaits when the water is high and rolling. Early morning and after lunch have been the best times.    

Kings River:

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said smallmouth action is very good. Water is extremely low, but if you don't mind hiking or wet wading, there are a lot of fish holding in the deeper holes. This also means very few people on the water, so the fish are not as spooky. Watermelon-colored lizards, tubes or worms will work great. Rig the hook weedless and use a slip weight to get the lure to the bottom. Fish will be holding deep in the holes and along wooded or grassy banks. Bounce the lure along the bottom and be prepared for a few good hookups. For the fly fisherman, late August and early September is prefect for hoppers. A Dave’s hopper in the shadowy areas will produce some great panfish and also a few smallies. Black woolly buggers and crayfish patterns will get the lunkers hiding in the deep water. Sun and wind can take a lot out of your body, so be sure and stay hydrated. 

Lake Fayetteville: 

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said fishing has remained slow for all species

Lake Sequoyah: 

Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear, but has a brown skim on the surface. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bream are slow. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and soft-plastics. Catfishing is good on bass minnows. Overall the fishing is slowly improving.   

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake: 

Boxhound Marina  ( 870-670-4496) said the water is clear. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets in 5 to 6 feet of water. Bass are fair on top-water lures and some surface schooling has been seen. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken livers.

Lake Frierson: 

Lake Frierson State Park  said bream are biting fairly well on redworms. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on stink bait and chicken liver.     

Spring River: 

Mark Crawford at Spring River Fly Shop said the water is running clear and at average flows. Fishing has been good with large coachman and minnow patterns fished deep. Great Mayfly hatches are coming off the water daily. Prince nymphs produce well during these hatches. Favorite fishing spots are below and on shoals where oxygen content is high. Many reports from anglers have been that the fishing is slow, but boat fishing with the guides from Spring River Fly Shop still produced a 30+ fish day on Monday.   

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 lake is producing some toads in the 8- to 9-pound range with one brute of over 12 pounds reported within the last week. The lake is absolutely full of 3 and 4 pounders. There is a good worm and jig bite in the 14- to 18-foot depth range. Best worm colors are watermelon/red and dark colors. Good jig colors include green pumpkin and black/blue. Carolina rigs are catching bass on points. Deep crankbaits are accounting for a few bass. The schooling action can be good if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. Prop baits and walking baits are catching some of these fish. Right now it is really important to keep your bait wet and pay attention. The bites are not coming fast, but the quality is more than worth the wait.   

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 255.41 feet MSL.

Millwood Lake Guide Service  said as of Monday, surface water temperatures are 85 to 90 degrees. Exercise extreme caution during running Little River as many river buoy markers are missing or pushed out of place. The lake is drawn down 4 feet and will remain low until February 2010. Yarborough Landing is still open, although extremely shallow. Wilton Landing on Hwy 71 is still open and gravel has been added to the end of the ramp to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps. The campground at lower Beards Bluff is closed. Last week's cold front improved the feeding activity of bass. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight until about 11 a.m. However, schooling largemouth bass are still being found all along Little River most any time of day. The best lures have been Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crankbaits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps in transparent, Millwood magic, and spring bream colors. Many pods of schooling fish have been found near most any creek junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. Medium-running Cordell Big Os and Fat Free Shads in white shad or citrus shad colors are taking bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets high, the best option is to pitch and flip an 8-inch magnum lizard in camouflage, redbug, or green pumpkin along stumps, cypress trees and laydowns near deep water. Schooling white bass reappeared last week between Yarborough point and Bee Lake. The schooling whites were very aggressive, hitting Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic and curly-tailed grubs. Crappie are improving on shiners and jigs with the improvement to water clarity and reduced current. Blakemore Roadrunners and Southern Pro Crappie Tubes are working in 12-15-foot depths near Little River. Channel catfish continue biting well on cut shad, chicken livers and Catfish Charlie on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12 feet of water, and on trotlines in Little 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:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 547.47 feet MSL (Flood pool – 548 MSL).

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said bass, crappie and catfish are still being caught in the band of water above 20-feet using live bait. Surface-feeding schools of black and white bass have been seen on the lake and caught using 1/4-oz. silver spoons. The lake level is holding just above 547msl and the surface temperature is in the upper 80s.    

Cossatot River: 

Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park said USGA states that the water level is 2 feet and the surface temperatures range from 75 to 80 degrees. With the water levels back to normal, conditions are great for fishing. Bream are biting great on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting well on green pumpkin finesse worms and crawdads. Crankbaits fished around structure in the deeper pools at 4 to 5 feet of water and small dark grubs are doing well too. Rooster Tails are catching a few as well. As always, a minnow will produce some limits of bass. The best bites for numbers of bass and green sunfish are coming from black rooster tails with gold spinners. Catfish are hit-and-miss, with most being caught at night on nightcrawlers. Fish are being caught all across the park and as far south as the backwaters of the lake. This time of year wadding up and down the river seems to be the most popular option to catch fish, with that in mind, be sure to watch your step and wear sturdy footwear to tackle the slippery terrain.     

DeGray Lake:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 402.89 feet MSL (Flood pool – 408 MSL).

Local angler George Graves said the water surface temperature is in the mid-80s and the water is clear. Hybrid fishing is still fair, however the fish are holding deep, (40 to 45 feet), with virtually no surface activity. Best areas are the edges of old creek channels in 100 to 120 feet of water. Try along the State Park between DeRoche Ridge and the mouth of Brushy Creek. The best baits have been heavy jigging spoons and big minnows. Bass fishing is only fair with a few fish breaking early in the morning. Use a swim bait and try to hit where the fish surface. Top-water hard baits and Flukes are also good choices. Most main-lake points will also produce a few bass on Texas-rigged worms. The best colors are green pumpkin and red shad. Several good reports have come in for night fishing with large dark-colored spinnerbaits. Fish up pretty shallow on main lake points which have some cover. Very few anglers are fishing for crappies, but some can still be caught on the deeper brush piles. Look for brush in 20 to 25 feet of water and drop a 2-inch Tennessee shad grub right on top of the cover. Fish about 15 feet down and fish the lure very slowly. Bream fishing is holding up well and it seems that they are just all over the place. Fish most any secondary point in 5 to 10 feet of water with either redworms or crickets. 

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Fort Smith:  

Local anglers reported decent catches of crappie last week in the 18-20 foot depth range. Some nice slabs have come from the lake lately on the Shepard Springs side of the lake.   

Lake Nimrod:

Lake Nimrod Bait and More II (479-272-4025) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows fished deep. Catfishing is excellent on live bait.  

Greer’s Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said crappie have been biting well. The best action has come on pink/white jigs with spinners trolled slowly around 10 feet deep.    

Lake Dardanelle:

Regina Olson at Spadra Marina said the dog days of summer are here. The water level has come up. Fishermen report crappie 8-10 feet deep with patient anglers getting 8 to 10 keepers per trip if they’re lucky. Catfish have been slow, but a few have been caught near moving water. Bass are slow, but some have been caught on watermelon seed soft plastics fished very slowly and worked in the same current breaks over and over.      

Blue Mountain Lake:

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 385.56 feet MSL.

Teresa at CD’s Quick Stop (479-947-2178) said hardly anyone is fishing and very few reports are coming in to the store. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfishing is fair on worms. No report on any other species.

Ozark Pool:

Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is murky and at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets and nightcrawlers. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on crankbaits. Catfishing is fair on chopped bait, nightcrawlers and minnows.     

Lake Ouachita:  

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 572.26 feet MSL (Flood pool – 578 MSL).

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said striper fishing is excellent. Bass fishing is good with some nice fish being caught on the deep edge of the grass on Texas-rigged Senkos.

Mountain Harbor Resort  said the lake level is 572.26 and the water is clear; the water temperature fluctuates between 88-92 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well on Texas-rigged worms fished in brush piles in 18 to 25 feet of water. Watermelon/red, bloodline and red shad Zoom paddle worms and Old Monsters are still the best baits. Largemouths, spots and whites are still breaking and can be caught on white Rooster Tails or top-water baits. Walleye are still good and being caught on bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses on main-lake points or humps near deep water in 16 to 24 feet of water. Jigging spoons are working well on suspended fish at the same depths. Stripers are still fair 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 very good on worms or crickets in 18 to 25 feet of water. Crappie are slow 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. Catfish are good and being caught on cut bait and live bait on jug lines and trotlines. Rod-and-reel fishing with stink bait or crickets has been very good in 15 to 20 feet of water.

Dave Lindhag from Striped Bass Adventures said the cooler weather is helping with the bite. Stripers are still running a bit deep. They’re hanging off points near the main channel, near the timber line and are biting fairly well on live, medium-sized gizzard shad.   

Lake Hamilton: 

Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports  said Lake Hamilton is producing small fish, but they’re plentiful in the (4 to 6 pound range). White bass are breaking most mornings and afternoons from the 270 bridge all the way to the 7 bridge. Most stripers and whites are in 20 to 30 feet of water. Small shad are the best bait, but jigging spoons will catch a few as well.    

Lake Catherine: 

Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, said that water temperature in the tailrace is holding steady at 62 degrees. Clarity is very good as Entergy incorporates a regular generation schedule. Rainbow trout fishing is extremely slow, which is normal for this time of year. Some fish remain but are few and far between. The trout stocking schedule begins again in November, so trout fishing will be slow until then. Striper and hybrid activity has been unpredictable as these fish tend to move around in search of prey. When the threadfin shad schools are present, big stripers are around and feed primarily when the turbines are running. Shad schools are easy to spot since they number into the thousands and stay close to the banks away from danger. Fishermen casting into feeding stripers do well with large soft-plastic baits that imitate shad or rainbow trout. C-10 Redfins and Super Spooks are proven striper killers and take hybrid bass as well. Gizzard shad fished under a balloon tend to target the larger fish. White bass are also feeding in the tailrace and can be caught on white or grey jigs around visible structure. Both white bass and stripers are much more active when there is current.

Lake Hinkle:  

Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets around rocky points. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Bass are excellent on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms and blood bait.   

Lake Atkins:

Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is clear and at normal levels. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets around brush. Catfishing is fair on cut shad. All other species are slow.  

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: 

Some anglers are catching a few bass around trees on dark-colored soft plastics. Bream are fair on crickets in about 5 feet of water. Water levels are beginning to subside.

East Arkansas

Arkansas River at Pine Bluff:  

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is clear and at normal pool. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are excellent on black/white crankbaits. Catfishing is excellent on worms, skipjack and chicken livers.     

White River: 

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water is low. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Bass are fair on shiners and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is fair on worms and shad.      

Maddox Bay: 

Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is high and the current is fast. Bream are slow with mostly small fish being caught. Some good red-eared sunfish are being caught on the bottom in 2 feet of water. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished 3 to 8 feet deep. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on stink bait near swift water.  

Island 40 Chute: 

Daily’s Boat Dock (870-739-3478) said the water is very low and stained. Bream are slow on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs fished around stumps in 31/2 feet of water. Bass are fair on soft-plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair on stinkbait and nightcrawlers. Fishing is normally tough this time of year, but should pick back up in October.  

Horseshoe Lake:

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are fair on worms and crickets fished around brush piles. Crappie are slow on minnows. Bass are very slow on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair at best on cut bait.