Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

June 26, 2025

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Even with the high water that has plagued the area for many weeks, Steve Michelson caught this nice rainbow on the Spring River recently while fishing with guide Mark Crawford. Read more of Crawford’s report below.

Reports are updated weekly, although some reports may be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news.

Arkansas River 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

Download the Fish Brain app and follow AGFC at: https://join.fishbrain.com/agfc-page

Quick links to regions:

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

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir (under renovation)
For the most up-to-date lake level, visit the U.S. Geological Survey’s Lake Conway water level site.

(updated 6-19-2025) AGFC staff report that Lake Conway Nursery Pond is getting quite a lot of use. The bream are now big enough to want to keep and they are plentiful. The staff hears reports of folks catching a slab crappie here and there. Staff aren’t aware of many anglers looking for bass, though there are bass in the pond. In past months, folks were catching plenty of catfish after they were stocked. The nearly 70-acre nursery pond has been set up by the AGFC Fisheries Division as an alternative destination while Lake Conway is drawn down for renovation. It is stocked with mature bass, crappie, catfish and bream, as well as rainbow trout for the cold-weather months.

Little Red River
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Greers Ferry Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website or by calling (501) 362-5150). Also check the Southwestern Power Administration website to see forecast generation schedule.

(updated 6-26-2025) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said, “We’ve got a solid summer pattern going on the Little Red right now, and the fishing has been holding strong. The SWPA’s projected generation from Greers Ferry Dam has stayed consistent with two units running daily from about 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. That 12-hour window has opened up some great opportunities, especially in the mornings before the heat kicks in.
“And speaking of heat, Arkansas is baking this week with heat-index readings expected to hit the triple digits — think 100-105 degrees. So, if you’re hitting the water, make sure you’re staying cool and hydrated out there.

“Drift fishing has been productive, especially in the falling water from the previous night’s generation. Focus on deeper sections around moss beds, as well as oxygen-rich shoals and those deeper plunge pools just below them — they’ve been holding good numbers of fish.

“If you’re wanting to wade fish, your best bet is to start early. Swinging Bridge and JFK Park are both good options, but keep in mind that with generation starting around 9 a.m., it’ll take about four hours for that water to reach Swinging Bridge. That gives you a solid window to fish until around 12:30–1 p.m. Want to stretch your wade day a bit longer? Head downriver to Ramsey Access or Pangburn Bridge in the afternoon where the water is still falling out.
Mike says flies that are producing are pink San Juan Worms, egg patterns, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear and Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles, and midges are always a staple.

He adds, “Now’s a great time to throw streamers, especially for those looking to move a big brown. The consistent generation has been perfect for banging the banks with big patterns from the boat. Cloudy days tend to get the best bite. Start downriver early while the water is still dropping out, then work your way back upriver in the afternoon as the next pulse of water starts making its way down.

“Whether you’re drifting from a boat or sneaking in a wade session, there’s plenty of opportunity on the Little Red right now. Give me a call if you want to get on the water — I’ve got open dates and would love to get you out there!”

(updated 6-19-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the Little Red fishing hasn’t changed except in between rains, where it muddies up before clearing, and that will affect the fishing. But otherwise, it’s fishing the same. The flow from the dam is still the same as it’s been, running two generations for 12 hours, but it’s moved earlier, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Being out in the early morning upriver will be best, catching the falling water, and setting up downriver late in the afternoon. Most anglers are having success with a marabou jig and a Trout Magnet. Also, Rooster Tails, jerkbaits and a No. 5 Shad Rap are solid choices now. Anglers can use these patterns both drifting or bank fishing for browns or rainbows. Wading is available early on before the generation. There have been a lot of people wading in the mornings near JFK Park, the Swinging Bridge and Cow Shoals.

Greers Ferry Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Greers Ferry Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

(updated 6-26-2025) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake has fallen some to 9.69 feet above normal pool, sitting at 472.23 feet msl (about a half-foot lower than this time last week). It has come back up with rain, but then should go back to falling with generation until normal pool is reached next month or even in August.

Fish remain scattered all over, but do understand: most sport fish (crappie, bass, etc.) will be close to the point of bushes as the last of the third shad spawn comes out and will ambush as they do.
Crappie are still up on the bank while others are still floating around in deeper water. Jigs and minnows are working best at all depths, with crankbaits for trolling 12-18 feet for the mid-depth fish and 40 feet for the deeper fish. Brushpiles are really coming into play now as well as standing timber.

Walleye are scattered everywhere. Some are deep, some shallow and all in-between — and, of course, lake fish are staying put on points, humps, etc. in 10-40 feet. Anglers having best success are trying to drag a jig tipped with minnow or crawler and/or a drop-shot. Big Minnow-style plugs are working trolled. 

Catfish are eating really well all over the lake and rivers. Lots of blues have been coming in. Lines and jugs are working best with a variety of baits, as well as rod and reels. Bream are showing up more now — try crawlers, crickets, small cranks and inline spinners. A lot of white bass and hybrid bass are in 25-43 feet. Use Road Runners and grubs for shallow fish, spoons and inline spinners for the ones moving deeper now. 

Black bass are scattered as well. Some are in the old buckbrush line, while some are still super shallow and others have moved offshore, and more are just roaming around chasing shad in 12-40 feet around points, humps, etc. Just about any style of bait is working; there are a lot more schooling fish now as well. 

“Be safe and wear your life jacket.”

(updated 6-19-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said conditions have not changed much at Greers in the past few weeks, with the lake still about 10 feet high. There is a topwater bite early in the morning and late in the evening to catch schooling fish. Try a Whopper Plopper or a clear Zara Spook for success.

Overall, you can still go out and catch a bunch of black bass, though the bigger fish haven’t been showing up yet. Tournament results show a smaller average than a few months ago. As for numbers, you’ll get them. 

Fish the main lake points by dragging a Carolina rig across those points with a Zoom watermelon seed lizard. Either in the main lake or in the coves, you can throw a swimbait up in the buckbrush, or flip a tube or jig up in the buckbrush.

For crappie, you’ll still get good results fishing in 15-20 feet of water in standing timber with a live minnow or any kind of natural color crappie jig.

Walleye are hungry, and a drop-shot with a nightcrawler in roughly about 20 feet of water is the way to go. Fish around the main lake points.

Water clarity is stained up in the rivers but clear in the main river.

Harris Brake Lake
(updated 6-19-2025) Bing Watkins at Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said 

bream are doing pretty good. One angler caught several bream, including some big bream, fishing with crickets Wednesday. His crickets were also attractive to some blue catfish, with a couple getting hooked. 

Crappie appear to have moved into deeper water. One angler caught some on minnows l that ranged from 10-14 inches. She’s heard nothing on any successful bass fishing. “It’s getting too hot. The lake level is down, too. It’s low. And it’s muddy.”

Follow more from Harris Brake Lake Resort on its Facebook page.

Lake Overcup
(updated 6-26-2025) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) off Arkansas Highway 9 (501-354-9007) said water level is about a foot high. Clarity is good. Surface water temperature is around 83 degrees. 

Black bass are doing well on crankbaits and plastic worms. Crappie are still being caught in 10-12 feet of water using jigs and minnows. 

Catfish are moving, and being caught on yo-yos, jugs and trotlines. Bream are finally getting ready to bed up and the water is finally leveling out. 

Lake Maumelle
(updated 6-26-2025) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) reports that water level is steady at 2.5 feet below normal pool. Water temperature has turned HOT this week, ranging 88-92 degrees. 

The black bass bite remains fair. Largemouth bass can be found in 10-20 feet depth and will bite Carolina rigs, jigs, drop-shots and crankbaits. Spotted bass (aka Kentucky bass) are reportedly being found at 10-20 feet mixed in with the largemouths. Try using drop-shots, jigs and cranks for the spots.
The catch weights in the Tuesday Night tournaments have been steady the past few weeks. This week saw Josh Jeffers and Aaron Presser pull in 14.59 pounds with their five-bass stringer, including a Big Bass of 4.40 pounds. Randy and Rick Sugg caught 11.57 total pounds for second.

Crappie fell back to just fair this week. Last reports said they are scattered around brush and rock piles in 15-25 feet. Jigs and minnows are the baits to use. Bream remain good, though. There have been reports of redear sunfish as well as bluegill bedding this week on brush. Try using crickets or worms.

Still no reports this week on white bass or catfish. Twister Tails and crankbaits should work best for white bass, and bream, liver and worms are best now for catfish.

(update 6-12-2025) Crappie guide Eric Watts of Natural State Fishing (501-548-8990) said the summer bite is here, and it’s an excellent time to get on the water! Water temps are in the mid-80s and the lake is roughly 4 feet below normal pool. Crappie can be found in 15-25 feet of water on cover/structure. Jigs and minnows are great options. As always, presentation is key. 

Visit www.nsfguide.com or call 501-548-8990 to schedule your guided crappie trip today!

Arkansas River at Morrilton
For the real-time water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam and Morrilton stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

Little Maumelle River
(update 6-19-2025) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said Thursday the water “has been kind of dingy from all the rain but is beginning to clear up now.
“There hasn’t been a whole lot of people out fishing,” he added.

The water is at normal height with a little stain. The last Ray had heard, there were still lots of bass being caught before the river muddied up. Worms and spinnerbaits were being used.

Also, bream were still bedded and people were catching them right against the bank with crickets or worms. 

“Nobody has mentioned crappie lately, but they were still biting in 4 feet of water on minnows before all the rain,” he said. “Catfish have been biting because of the water being murky and moving.” One angler got into several nice flatheads in recent days, fishing with bream. “This will be when they are spawning,” Ray said.

“They say the rain is over for a while now, so the water will clear up in a couple of days.”

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
For the real-time water flow at the Toad Suck Lock and Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website. 

Arkansas River (Little Rock Area Pools)
For the real-time water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam and David D. Terry Lock and Dam, as well as the Little Rock pool stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 6-26-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said the river is still too high for safe fishing. The flow at Murray was 167,000 cfs Thursday, which is down from the 200,000-plus cfs at this time last week, but which still calls for a small craft warning until the flow gets around 70,000 cfs.

Peckerwood Lake
(updated 6-26-2025) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said they anglers are doing well on bass, catfish and bream. Also, they are catching crappie now trolling and spider-rigging. Some may still be trying to jig, but most crappie anglers coming out now are coming to spider-rig, she reports.

Catfish are going for worms, hot dogs and liver. “When they are on they will hit anything,” she said.
As for bream, most everyone is using crickets and worms. Bream are up shallow and have been spawning. 

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 6-26-2025) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Trout catching has been phenomenal. The quality of our catch has improved with the higher releases of water at the dam. Water levels have continued higher with releases of four to six units (12,000-14,800 cfs). Bull Shoals Lake is sitting at 691.71 feet msl and dropping slowly toward power pool.

“Red wigglers were dancing for the rainbows and getting plenty of attention. Dangling a worm near the bank during rises in the water level is most always a sure catch.
“Close behind: yellow or orange PowerBait tipped with shrimp on a size 8 Aberdeen or bait holder hook. It’s a good idea to use bronze hooks to decrease harm to the trout. The Berkley Pink Worm remains a favorite of the guides — better when drift-fishing from a boat on high water.
“Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never used before. Change your baits if what’s tied on isn’t working. Dangle something new. High water provides the opportunity to experiment with so many different baits. The browns are still biting at sculpins and soft-shell crawdads (keep the Rebel Wee Craw handy).
“The river provides even more of an escape now than at any other time. Life on the river is good. Come share it with us.”

Calico Rock Area
(updated 6-26-2025) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that for most of the last week they saw water levels between 8-10.5 feet. The past few days they’ve had slightly lower water levels after Norfork Dam shut its floodgates. Fishing has been consistent using Uncommon Bait UV Eggs in Neo Pink, shrimp and with or without a silver inline spinner. Because of the water depths, artificial lures haven’t been effective. Good news is both lakes are about 4 feet below the top of the flood pool.

“I believe we will continue to see higher-than-usual water until the lakes get lower. This week we received two stockings from the AGFC stocking raft. One stocking was 4,800 rainbows between Calico Rock and Allison and another stocking of 4,800 rainbows between Norfork and Calico Rock.”

Allison/Mountain View Area
(updated 6-19-2025) Jack’s White River Fishing Resort reports that the White River guides — Bart, Braiden, Caleb, Chris and Irvin all consistently limited out on rainbow trout throughout the week with excellent success across the board. Among the highlights: 17-inch rainbows were landed on multiple outings — a great size and exciting for anglers; the guides round excellent results using End of the Line TR Orange and Royal Blue Power Eggs and Jack’s handmade hammered silver spinners — this winning combo brought solid bites in varied conditions.

The river has been fluctuating with periods of high, muddy water due to heavy rainfall and dam generation cycles. At times, conditions cleaned up between flow events, giving guides confidence to run drift rigs and spinners.

Bull Shoals Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Bull Shoals Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 6-26-2025) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302), delcolvinfishing.com, said Wednesday that the lake level had fallen a foot from this time last week to 692 feet msl, or 32 feet above normal pool. The water temperature is rising to around 82 degrees and it’s getting hot out. There is still an occasional floater with the high water as the wind changes direction. Parking has been an issue for many weeks as most boat ramps and parking areas are underwater. The marinas are doing a great job to accommodate everyone. The water conditions toward the main lake remain gin clear to the dam with some color still in the backs of creeks. 

Bass are setting up early in summer areas. Get up early and check ledges, points, bluffs and swings. Bass are grouped up. Powerfishing shallow has been fair with the right conditions: shad, clouds, rain, wind and stained runoff water. Use spinnerbaits, Chatterbait and a square bill in stained runoff water. The ole Big Worm, Texas-rigged, is good in trees and laydowns. There are always fish to be caught on a flipping jig like a Jewel half-ounce green pumpkin variant. Try a shaky head, wobble head, tube or a Ned rig if it’s slow. You’re going to have to contend with flooded bushes, but that’s where the fish are. Look at steeper banks as the temps rise. 

The offshore videogamers are still going to have to work. The shad are still spread out with the water moving through the lake. Target larger bait balls or any bait you can find up high near the surface and closer to the shore. If you are targeting shad eaters, a smaller 2.8 swimbait or a regular Tater Shad and the Rapala Mooch Minnow will work. 

“You’re going to have to experiment with head sizes. I’m using 3/16-ounce up to ⅜-ounce depending on the day and the depth of the fish.”
Topwater has been slow. Get up early. Use a Lucky Craft Gunfish or a small white Booyah Popper, wake bait or Zara Spook Jr. over flooded points and saddles. “Fish the conditions. Summer equals four- and six-hour trips.”
Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Fishing Report) or delcolvinfishing.com for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake.

(updated 6-26-2025) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) said the walleye fishing has been fair to good this past week with a lot of small walleye and a few good fish being caught over the flooded buckbrush. If the sun is high, fish a little deeper along the old shoreline. Fish are scattered along rounded gravel points with deep water close by and along steeper creek channel swings that have shad. We’re fishing the shoreline in 25-35 feet of water with spinnerbaits and crawler rigs or working a jig and crawler along in 30-35 feet around the edges of the flooded brush. 

When trolling over buckbrush, try a size 7 or 9 Flicker Shad or size 9 Flicker Minnow in 25-30 feet of water. Trolling at speeds of 1.5 to 1.7 mph seems to be a good speed at this time.

Some walleye are still being caught in open water over the flooded trees, but this is starting to slow down. If trolling deep, try deep-diving crankbaits with snap weights to get your baits down 40-70 feet and fish over the flooded trees in 80 or more feet of water at 1.7 to 2 mph.

(updated 6-26-2025) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says crappie are scattered out a lot in the creeks. Finding the structure in 15-20 feet has been the key, but we’re having to put in a lot of time looking. Minnows and jigs both have been working when you find them.

Norfork Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 6-19-2025) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters (also Facebook.com/stroutfitters or 870-421-1541) guides out of Tracy Ferry Marina and reports that the lake is 579 feet msl and falling. The rain continues. The lake was down 3 feet, but recent rains have pushed the water up to the flood pool. The Army Corps of Engineers has begun a spillway release to evacuate water. The stripers were moving south, but the rise of water seemed to slow the process. The past several days have seen lots of topwater action; the stripers are smaller but still legal. 

The bigger stripers are being caught between 40-60 feet. “One problem I have found is that my bait is now dying above 30 feet. This is very unusual for this time of year, especially with all the freshwater coming into the lake.

“The stripers are going deeper after the sun rises. (Tuesday), I spot-locked a deep-water spot and set all my lines between 50-60 feet and waited as the stripers were showing up in groups of four or five. It took about an hour to catch our limit.
“So, patience is the key once the sun hits the water. Long lines continue to produce early. Bluffs that parallel the river channel right now are the place to consistently catch stripers.”

Note: We are now in the catch-and-keep phase for stripers. If you book a trip, expect to keep the fish. No releasing of stripers until the fall. 

Beaver Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Beaver Lake Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 6-26-2025) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake level is 1,128.10 feet msl. The lake is stable and that’s starting to really help set the summer pattern.

Tuesday the thermocline was at 27-30 feet in the Horseshoe area. The summer pattern on Beaver is when the thermocline sets up and the fish set up near that. If the thermocline is at 27 feet, that is where you need to concentrate your efforts. Whether you are fishing points or trolling, 27 feet is where the fish will be. 

On that note, the thermocline changes throughout the lake. It can be 27 feet in one place and 17 feet in another. 

Generation and boating activity can mix water and change the transition zone of warm water to the start of the cooler water and much better oxygen levels. To find the thermocline, you must understand your electronics. 

If you are fishing, look to troll your baits that reach the top of the thermocline. If fishing points and shoreline, focus at the depth the thermocline shows on your electronics and fish those depths. 

Stripers have been good. Fish are spread out from Prairie Creek down to Point 3. Move and keep an eye for bait on your electronics. Trolling shad, brooders or bream will work. 

Walleye are starting to congregate on points and flats. Crawler harnesses are probably your best option.

Crappie are on pole timber and also suspended at top of the thermocline. Look from
Hickory Creek up to Monte Ne.

Catfish are good throughout the lake on jugs and limblines. 

Bream/bluegill are there for the taking. 

Bass are fair on points and humps.

Tons of debris are still floating, so use caution and keep your eyes open for partial submerged hazards.

“Stay safe and enjoy beautiful Beaver Lake!”

Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

Beaver Tailwater
(updated 6-26-2025) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) says fishing has been very consistent this past week and the summer heat ramped up over the weekend. The water levels are still high for the tailwater, but with the right presentation, you will catch fish. Pautzke Fire Eggs fished with light terminal tackle on bottom have been successful, along with drifting Fire Worms. Add some Fire Gel to the presentation to increase that hookup. With the Army Corps of Engineers flowing water, drifting the same presentation also should produce good results. The fish are scattered throughout the system, but most are being caught in the Houseman area, in the morning and up from the U.S. Highway 62 bridge in the evening. 

“Summertime is a great time to get the kids ‘unplugged’ and outside. Why not take them fishing? Teaching kids how to fish is very rewarding. Not only do they learn about conservation, but it is also a great family activity. 

“Well, the summer heat is here, so drink plenty of water, stay cool and catch some fish! Remember: For additional updates, follow my Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service). I’m pretty much on the water every week. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. Take care, get out and catch some fish!”

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 6-19-2025) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reports crappie had slowed down but they were still biting. They’ve been best on live worms. Bass and catfish are both picked up. Bass are favoring soft plastic worms; they’ve heard no reports on any topwater action. Catfish are best using liver. There are bream out in the lake, but so far no one has reported anything on the bream bite.

Lake Charles
(updated 6-26-2025) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said fishing is fair to outstanding across all species lately on Lake Charles. The lake is the usual murky clarity, and on Sunday the surface water temperature was 79.3 degrees. The water level remains high.

Bream are excellent. They are shallow and biting on Waxies in pink or white and on worms. You can catch them from the shoreline.

Crappie are good. You’ll find them in 3-5 feet of water. Use crickets or worms.

Black bass are good, but anglers did not reveal what baits they were using. 

Catfish are good on worms and Doc’s Blood Bait. 

White bass are still active and the bite this past week has been fair. No baits were mentioned, but Twister Tails, jigs and spinners are always a good bet.

Lake Poinsett
(updated 6-26-2025) Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park says Lake Poinsett has been slower with this heat wave. Not as many anglers have been out on the lake or coming through the State Park visitor center. It seems that bass and bream are the main catches right now, with catfish not far behind. Bank fishing (preferably from the shade) for bream with crickets or redworms has been what most people have been doing from those that have stopped by the park. Bass were still being caught in around 15 feet of water, according to a guest using a kayak.

As always, the state park is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily for bait sales.

Spring River
(updated 6-26-2025) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said on his blog that “the Spring River was looking good. A light rain was seen Wednesday afternoon, and the river is still flowing strong. “You might need extra weight to get down. Olive woollies have been the hot fly since the flood. I tied a bunch last night. On hot, blaring sun days, you just have to get down a little deeper. There are still plenty of rainbows and it’s a great time to teach a young person how to catch and release!”

With no rain in the past several days up until Wednesday’s shower, the river was clearing up and coming down, Mark added in his blog. The level at the Spring was 490 cfs (350 is average) and the water clarity was cloudy. The rainbows were biting olive Woollies, and he stressed his main point as above: You just have to get down to them.

Casting upstream with a hard mend works great, he said. “If you’re using indicators, bless your heart, learn to high stick! I’m a fly-fishing junkie! I gotta feel that hit at the end of a swing, or better yet on the strip with a big fish chasing down my fly. It’s addictive.

“River levels are still above normal. Be safe out there and please hydrate!”

Visit Mark’s blog (springriverfliesandguides.com) for updates and conditions on the Spring River.

White River
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time gauge level and flow from the White River stages at Batesville, Newport and Augusta and all other sites within the White River basin in Arkansas, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
For the real-time water flow at the Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam and Maynard Lock and Dam, as well as the Pine Bluff pool stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 6-26-2025) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team reports that water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s. Visibility is near zero on the main channel and up to 12-16 inches in Lake Langhofer and protected backwaters. Water is several feet high and falling. Ample flooded cover in Lake Langhofer has many black bass on the bank and feeding well. This should continue for a few days as falling water pulls fish back to the outside edge of cover. Swim jigs, bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and frogs are getting bit in the flooded vegetation mostly on shad colors.

Mid-day or during calm conditions, dark-colored Texas-rigged creature lures are producing, worked through the heavier cover, especially near points. While many fish are on the banks, some brushpiles on sand drops offshore in Lake Langhofer are holding fish, too. 

Cane Creek Lake
(updated 6-26-2025) Shelley Burr at Cane Creek State Park, (870-628-4714) said anglers have been catching their limits on big crappie early mornings. They are fishing out on the lake from their boat.
“It’s been really, really hot, so the fisherman have been going fishing early — early so they can get out of the heat, but they are catching their limits on crappie, bream and some catfish. They all are fishing from their boats. We had a few people fishing off docks, but they are not really catching anything.”

Lake Monticello
(updated 6-26-2025) Anglers are reminded that all fish caught must be released immediately. The Hunger Run Access was opened late last year to boat traffic. There have been reports from anglers catching nice black bass. All fishing regulations, including catch-and-release-only fishing for all sport fish, remain in place even while the lake is lowered for the city’s repair work on the dam. 

Lake Chicot
(updated 6-26-2025) Lake Chicot, part of Lake Chicot State Park, is home to bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, redear sunfish and other bream, in addition to crappie. If you fish Lake Chicot, Connerly Bayou downstream of Connerly Dam, or Ditch Bayou from Lake Chicot downstream to Ditch Bayou Dam, be aware that crappie shorter than 10 inches must be immediately released and that the crappie daily limit is 20.

Millwood Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Millwood Lake Dam, visit the Corps Little Rock office website.

(updated 6-26-2025) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said Thursday that extra caution in navigation is still being urged on the lake due to many buoys missing along Little River through the timbered sections of the open lake. The Army Corps of Engineers Ranger Staff began work to replace any remaining missing buoys along the main lake channels. Also, he said, due to the extreme heat wave and humidity, and fish metabolism in southwestern Arkansas, the guide service is back on its summer schedule starting this week — meaning, they are conducting only half-day, or Run-N-Gun, charters, now through the end of September. Full-day charters will return again Oct. 1.
Lake elevation was about 7 inches above normal pool and falling, at 259.8 feet msl. The dam is releasing about 8,000-plus cfs and the tailwater is near 240 feet and falling. Check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide service’s website linked above, or the Army Corps of Engineers website, for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels.

Surface temps are ranging 77 degrees early to 85 later in the day along Little River. Clarity is heavy stain, with typical Millwood lighter stain in most locations of oxbows. River clarity ranges 2-4 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility of oxbows continues improving as levels stabilize, and visibility in the oxbows ranges 6-15 inches in many locations the further you are from river current and higher flow rates.
Siefert had these specifics on the fishing this week:

* It’s summer and the heat, surface temps and stress on largemouth bass have best reactions occurring at dawn and dusk-thirty. Also, the best reactions are during cloudy days or at dawn for a few hours until the sun begins to beat down and intensify water temps. Bass are best early, roaming through lily pads and emerging grass, cypress trees and flats near deeper creek channel bends with access to quick drops in the creeks or oxbows, into the 8- to 10-feet depth range. The best holding locations, early and late, are wherever grass, lily pads and vegetation are together with stumps in 4-8 feet of depth, with many bass cruising and feeding after sundown or before dawn. Largemouths have been fair on square-bill cranks deflecting off stumps where shallow pockets and flats drop into creek channel swings or vertical structure with lily pads.
Johnson Chrome Spoons with a 2- to 4-inch white curly tail grub or swimbait/paddle tail trailer are drawing good reactions in the lily pads and grass. Switching to a gold spoon seemed to improve the reaction on cloudy days. 

Brazalo Clacking Buzzbaits like the Bushwhacker, and the Wee Whackers, their 501 Spinnerbait in Millwood Mayhem Bream, and Strutter Chatterbaits in bream or black/purple/blue have been working for several weeks on the flats near cypress trees and new lily pads at dawn. 

Weightless Texas-rigged Bass Assassin 5-inch Shad Assassins, fished with a very light wire hook, and hollow body frogs and Horny Toads or Rage Toads continue working in the fresh new blooms of lily pads and emergent grass, with the best colors being Houdini, Pumpkinseed and Smoke Wagon dipped in chartreuse JJ’s Magic Dippin’ Dye.

The Bill Lewis Lures MR-6, ATV and SB-57 crankbaits in Bluegill/Bream, Guacamole or burnt pumpkinseed patterns were working shallow near flats with bream beds, but the bass recently pulled out of the flats into drops and vertical structure. The Stumpknocker and Sunrise Perch patterns of the Echo 1.75 size drew some reactions from 2- to 3-pound bass near stumps on points of the oxbows last week. 

Largemouth bass in the 2- to 4-pound class have been slow to fair to react to Sweet Beavers and Baby Brush Hogs in recent weeks, with better reactions coming on Texas-rigged 7- to 10-inch Power Worms in Junebug red, black grape or Watermelon Candy and Blue Fleck.

* Anglers told us white bass were biting recently near White Cliffs campgrounds along Little River. They were stacked up behind primary and secondary points extending into the river. Those anglers were having fair to good luck with Rooster Tails, Little Georges, Rocket Shads, Underspins with a 3-inch white grub and Chuck’n Spins.

* Crappie continue to bite well and are in transition – moving to deeper drops and planted brush – and the bite has been good overall, with 15-40 nice-sized slabs in a half-day run on average. Good size crappie can be caught – they are deeper than two weeks ago, with main populations continuing to move to deeper planted brush. Improved water clarity conditions in the oxbows, and along the main lake river channel swings away from increased river current toward the dam, improved the reactions. Pink, chartreuse, white, Electric Chicken and red jigs have been working the last few weeks. 

* Catfish are fair to good in current along Little River. Limblines and trotlines were getting 4- to 8-pound channel cats and flatheads using cut buffalo, cut gizzard shad and chicken hearts or gizzards, with chum and have been caught for several weeks in current from 8-12 feet of depth.

* No reports on bream.

For more details, visit the Millwood Lake Guide Service webpage.

Lake Greeson Tailwater
For the most updated Narrows Dam generation schedule from SWEPCO, click here.

Lake Greeson
For the most updated lake level at Lake Greeson, click here.

No reports.

DeGray Lake
For the most updated lake level at DeGray Lake, click here.

(updated 6-19-2025) John Duncan of YoYo Guide Service (870-942-6291 or yoyoguideservice@gmail.com) at Iron Mountain Marina says, “Hey, folks, like the storms? Typical summer pattern, but it’s not summer yet.

“Water level is 408.34 feet msl. The surface water temperature is in the low 80s. The further you go upriver the more debris you run into. 

“The crappie bite is changing, it appears to me. The brushpile bite is very tough. You have to put it real close. Almost tough them. It appears there are more fish drifting toward timber. That requires a change in technique. Single pole with LiveScope is a great way. Sometimes you can cast rigs to them if there are no limbs above them. You can also minnow and slip-bobber for them, but it requires a change in that technique. As they move to the timber, remember to consider profile size.

“There is more surface activity daily if the water is calm enough to see the activity. White bass are on the move.

“Hydrate and watch out for others.”

De Queen Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from De Queen Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Dierks Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Dierks Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

White Oak Lake Area
No reports.

Lake Catherine Tailwater (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro

(updated 6-26-2025) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature is 64 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Lake Ouachita remains almost 2 feet in the flood pool, prompting Entergy to run round-the-clock generation before area dams to stabilize lake levels. Entergy is running 3,600 cfs below Carpenter Dam, which is a safe current flow for boaters and bank anglers to utilize.

Lake Ouachita must be kept down out of flood pool, which is key in Entergy continuing to schedule 24/7 flows below area dams. The weekly generation schedule is normally posted Wednesday evening at the Entergy/Hydro website linked above.

June typically marks the end of quality rainbow trout fishing on Lake Catherine. April was the last month for rainbow trout stocking for the spring season with 4,320 fish released in the tailrace. Bank fishermen have had some success using live baits such as redworms and waxworms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. PowerBait is a good bet presented in the same manner. Boat anglers have anchored in and around rock structure or sandbars and have had success casting Rooster Tails in brown or white in a ⅛-ounce weight. Spoon presentations as a Little Cleo or Super Duper will also work well in a current situation when rainbows are keying in on injured baitfish. 

Fly-fishermen can still access areas that hold trout even though the lake is now at normal summertime pool. Micro-jigs in black or white cast under a strike indicator strongly resemble river minnows that live in the tailrace. Woolly Buggers in olive and black are a mainstay in the line of artificial lures that trout will feed on. Egg patterns in orange or white will draw strikes when other presentations are ignored. 

Walleye are still in the area and good numbers remain the tailrace for the summer months. Trolling shallow-running crankbaits that imitate crawfish and threadfin shad is a proven technique to cover water and tempt walleye into feeding. 

The crappie spawn has come and gone, as high water and fast flows prevented anglers from some great angling opportunities in the tailrace. White bass are thriving in the tailrace for the spawn and will remain in the tailrace until mid-July. These fish can be caught on 1/16- and ⅛-ounce jigs around rock structure and sandbars. Action will be best during times of generation. Trolling crankbaits that imitate shad will give boat fishermen a good chance to target white bass that are constantly chasing the shad schools in the tailrace. 

June brings blue and channel catfish into the tailrace to begin their spawning run and will provide angers some wonderful table fare. Cut baits fished from the bank or boat will be effective this month, with most of the catfish ranging 3-10 pounds.

Remember to always wear a life jacket when on the water and obey all park and lake regulations when visiting Carpenter Dam. Trash cans are limited, so please pick up after yourselves and always cooperate with wildlife officials when approached.

Lake Dardanelle
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ outflow and gauge level reports from Dardanelle, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Lake Hamilton
No reports. Hamilton had areas full of debris after the storms of two weeks ago.

(updated 6-5-2025) AGFC staff reported that bass fishing was OK to good this past month. They are in shallow water and favor a swimbait as well as a Carolina rig.

As reported by Trader Bill’s Outdoors Facebook page, though, the lake turned out ANOTHER monster black bass in May. Grayson Goss, a junior at Lakeside High School, caught a whopper Saturday weighing 11.21 pounds in the Trader Bill’s High School Trail championship out of the Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery.
Grayson and his fishing partner, Griffin Ralph, weighed in a total of 24.91 pounds to take the win.

Coincidentally, Griffin Ralph graced the Fishing Report pages earlier this year when he hauled in a 13.43-pounder at Millwood Lake in an early March tournament with Grayson alongside.

All fish in the tournament were released back to the lake alive, Trader Bill’s Outdoors reported on its page.

(updated 6-5-2025) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted earlier this week on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, the many big bass tournaments that have been held on Hamilton on successive weekends and the large bass being caught in those tournaments. Last week, in the BFL All-American, with a $120,000 purse, the winning angler brought in 56 pounds of fish in three days (5-bass stringers each day, averaging 18.67 pounds a day, or 3.7 pounds per fish). The runner-up caught 53 pounds over three days. “That’s ridiculous, an absolutely crazy number,” Kastner said of the winner’s total. Though regular anglers are going to have to battle the weekend Jet skis and boaters until Labor Day, there are some hidden-away coves with brushpiles for some good fish and big bass obviously available.

Lake Nimrod
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow reports from Nimrod Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

(updated 6-12-2025) Sheila at Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025) said that in the last few days she’s hearing that people are getting their limits and the fish are biting: crappie, bream, catfish and gar all are good to excellent.

Carter Cove has a Facebook page, and the email address is cartercovebaitnmore@gmail.com. 

Lake Ouachita
For the current lake level at Blakely Dam, click here.

(updated 6-26-2025) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) says, “Welcome to summertime fishing. The water temperature was 86 degrees the last time I came off the water. I’m seeing very little surface activity early in the mornings. We did catch a few crappie on brushpiles, 20-plus-feet deep.”

(updated 6-26-2025) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) reports that black bass are good. Try a jighead worm or Zoom Brush Hog on main lake and secondary points near brush, or a black spinnerbait at night. Walleye are very good and biting on nightcrawlers near brush on points. Try depths from 12-18 feet deep. Stripers are still very good and biting on trolling rigs and live bait in the central part of the lake. 

Bream are very good on worms or crickets in 5-15 feet of water. Crappie are still very good and relating to brush in the 15- to 20-foot range. Catfish are good on trotlines and jugs with live and cut bait.

Water temperature is ranging 78-82 degrees. Water clarity is stained. The lake level is 580.36 feet msl, down a half-foot since this time last week. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

Blue Mountain Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow reports from Blue Mountain Lake, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

No reports.

White River/Clarendon Area
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time gauge level and flow from Clarendon, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.

Cook’s Lake
(updated 6-19-2025) Wil Hafner at the AGFC’s Cook’s Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) said, “Once again, I am here to report that Cook’s Lake remains closed to fishing due to high water and the ramp and dock not being accessible. With that said, it looks like the river is holding steady for the foreseeable future. Therefore, I still do not have an estimated opening date. My best guess will be after the 4th of July.”

Cook’s Lake is a 2.5-mile-long oxbow off of the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas County, with black bass, crappie, bream and catfish. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to it being used only for education purposes and youth and mobility-impaired fishing. Cook’s Lake is open to fishing for youths under 16 or mobility-impaired anglers who must possess the AGFC mobility-impaired access permit, and up to two guests (who may also fish), during the specified fishing season. Fish from the 140-foot mobility-impaired accessible dock or launch a boat. Fishing will be allowed only on Fridays and Saturdays, March through August, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., water level pending. Before launching, please check in at the Nature Center classroom and report back before leaving. For information or unscheduled closures, please call the center at 501-404-2321.

White River/Arkansas River (Pool 2)
(updated 6-26-2025) Webb’s Sporting Goods (870-946-0347) in DeWitt (1970 S. Whitehead Drive) says crappie fishing is looking really good, around 20 feet deep still in grassy areas and around cypress trees or timber. The rivers are still a bit muddy, but the tributaries, ponds, lakes and other bodies of water are clearing up. Catfish are doing well on all different baits; for trotlines and jugs, baitfish and catalpa worms work excellent!

 “As always, thanks to all our loyal customers for shopping at Webb’s Sporting Goods!”

Note: msl is mean sea level; cfs is cubic feet per second.