Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report
BY Jim Harris
ON 04-08-2021
April 8, 2021
Jim Harris
Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing report for April 8, 2021. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. Reports are updated weekly, although some reports might be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter for the lake or stream you plan to fish for current news. Note: msl = mean sea level; cfs = cubic feet per second. All Corps of Engineers lake and river readings were taken at 10 a.m. the day of publication (April 8).
****Buy an Arkansas Fishing License by clicking here. Your purchase of a Fishing License helps support the AGFC’s work in maintaining the fishing resources throughout the state.
Quick links to regions:
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
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
(updated 4-8-2021) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the lake’s clarity is slightly stained as of Wednesday early afternoon but was starting to clear up. The water level is normal. The bream bite is good on redworms and crickets. Crappie still show signs of being or beginning to get into spawn mode. The bite is good on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good in the shallow water now. Throw a spinnerbait or a topwater lure. Catfish are fair on trotlines and limblines.
(updated 3-25-2021) Hatchet Jack’s Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (758-4958) reports that crappie are “really good” off the Highway 89 bridge. Use minnows and jigs.
Lake Beaverfork
(updated 4-8-2021) Angler Dennis Charles visited Beaverfork as well as several other lakes in the area with similar conditions (Lake Brewer, Lake Cargile and Harris Brake). He says “every finned critter is increasing the bite. Water temperature is around 60 degrees and crappie spawn in imminent Bass are hitting everything in the box in the shallows. Bream are slow. Crappie are still suspended, but some are being caught using plastics or jigs, and minnows. Reports from anglers said the best time is dawn and dusk.” Visit Dennis’ Facebook page for more information.
Little Red River
(updated 4-8-2021) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood water is stained. Trout are great on Trout Magnets, Rooster Tails, Shad Raps and Rapala Countdowns toward the bank and first drop-off point. Browns are especially good on jerkbaits with the water running the way it is.
(updated 4-1-2021) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-230-0730) reminds anglers to always check before heading to the Little Red River by calling the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District water data system (501-362-5150) for Greers Ferry Dam water release information or check the Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
(updated 3-25-2021) Greg Seaton of littleredflyfishingtrips.com (501-690-9166) said the river is muddy below Sulphur Creek due to the rain Wednesday night. “I have not been above this area, but I would think the clarity of the upper section of the river is better. The Corps of Engineers is still running one unit plus approximately 600 cfs through the floodgates. This amounts to a flow of about 3,400 cfs around the clock. This generation will help clear the lower section in the next day or two,” Greg said.
The lake is again rising into the flood pool so this generation schedule will probably continue for the near future.
Large nymphs drifted deep or streamer fishing are the best options for fly-fishermen at this time. Remember to be careful of the docks and downed trees along the shore during this higher level of flow. Avoid drifting against the upstream side of these objects.
Greers Ferry Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.75 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.04 feet msl).
(updated 4-8-2021) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 462.76 feet msl, just a little above normal pool of 462.04 feet msl and on a slow fall. Of course, this will make the fish a little skittish of staying up shallow. A lot of species will stay pulled off banks and bushes and such, somewhat to spawn, so keep that in mind when fishing shallow.
Crappie are eating all over. Just staying with them, they move around a lot; use jigs, minnows and crankbaits. Bream are still staying out a little deeper, just too many cold nights and lots of cold fronts lately. Try crickets, crawlers or beetle spins out 5-20 feet. Catfish are slow now. Black bass are scattered all over, top to bottom, shallow to deep out to 60 feet. A variety of things working: C-rig, drop-shot, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, the mainstays. Hybrid bass and white bass are eating on and off at various times day and night. Grubs, swimbaits, live baits, spoons and inline Largos are working, super shallow out to 60 feet.
(updated 4-8-2021) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood says water is 1 foot high and clear, the water temperature is mid- to higher 50s, with some 60-degree water in spots. Bass are good on spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, floating worms fished around the bushes, Texas-rigged lizards and Carolina rigs in 10-15 feet of water off secondary points. Crappie are good on Road Runners with grubs swimming around the bushes in 5-6 feet water (fish a natural shad pattern, pink/chartreuse or white/chartreuse colors).
Harris Brake Lake
(updated 4-8-2021) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says the lake’s clarity has muddied as of Wednesday’s rain, but the lake level has dropped to normal over the past week. Crappie are still mostly being found in deeper water, while the bite remains good. Use minnows and jigs. Black bass are good. They are moving closer to shore. Crankbaits or topwater baits still are your best bet. Catfish were biting more this week. Good results were had with goldfish, bass minnows and dough bait. Trotlines are a good way to go. Bream still haven’t shown.
(updated 4-8-2021) See Angler Dennis Charles’ report under Lake Beaverfork.
Lake Overcup
(updated 4-8-2021) New owner Phil Thomas at Lakeview Landing (501-354-5309) said the lake has pretty good clarity as of Thursday morning and the level has dropped below normal. Bream fishing is fair; use redworms or crickets. Crappie are good on the shoreline, hitting minnows and jigs. Bass are good on a variety of baits. Catfish are also good, with the best fishing off the docks using live bait (worms, minnows or nightcrawlers).
Brewer Lake
(updated 4-8-2021) See angler Dennis Charles’ report on Lake Beaverfork above for information on Brewer Lake.
(update 4-1-2021 ) David Hall at Dad’s Bait Shop (501-977-0303) said the lake is clear and at a normal level. Crappie are still in deeper water but the bite is good. Target the brushpiles and stumps and use minnows. Bream are fair on redworms. They’re also hanging around the brushpiles. Black bass are biting well. The bass are closer to the shoreline in the weeds. Try a crankbait. Catfishing is good on worms, drop the bait to the bottom. Anglers note that Dad’s Bait Shop is now 24/7 self-serve, David said.
Lake Maumelle
(updated 3-25-2021) Hatchet Jack’s Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (501-758-4958) hears that crappie are biting well on yo-yos at night time.
(updated 4-8-2021) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) said they have been receiving great reports on crappie this week. More on that in this report. Also, note that Maumelle will be host to the Arkansas High School Bassers’ Tournament, with 80-100 boats on the lake, on Saturday. And the Lake Maumelle Tuesday Night Bass Tournament season is back up and running, contact WestRock Landing for more information on how to compete in the series. This past Tuesday night, 17 out of 21 boats landed five fish each. Lee Brizzolari and Wes Lowder hauled in 14.33 pounds worth of bass to win, while Jeremy Cole and Aaron Cole hooked a big bass of 4.37 pounds. Water temperature is running 58-61 degrees at Lake Maumelle. The largemouth bass bite is good. Some can be found in the grass on the shoreline and around the grass in 8-12 feet biting a variety of lures. Try using jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits. The Kentucky/spotted bass bite is fair. Some reports have them being found shallow or near drop-offs and rocky banks. Try using jigs. White bass are fair. Reports of the white bass being shallow by the west bridge and moving back out. Try using swimbaits, Rat-L-Traps and minnows. The great bite from the crappie is coming in about 2-4 feet of water as the males are shallow on the beds. Other anglers are saying that female crappie can be found moving in in 8-10 feet. Try using jigs and minnows. Bream are good. Some are reporting that they’re finding them in 24-26 feet, w hile others say 26-28 feet off the bottom. Use crickets or worms. Also, reports have come in of redear being mixed in with the crappie in shallow water and biting jigs. Catfishing is slow, with no reports coming in this week. But see if they’ll take chicken liver, worms or crawfish.
Lake Willastein
(updated 3-25-2021) Hatchet Jack’s Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (501758-4958) says that fishing is good in small bodies of water in the backwaters. Bass will go for any kind of moving bait — spinner, crank, Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are biting minnows and jigs. Bream are starting to move up shallow.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam was 62,237 cfs. Flow further upriver at Dardanelle Lock and Dam was 61,884 cfs.
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(updated 4-8-2021) Charlie Hoke at Charlie’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo (501-354-8080) had closed most of his marina down for COVID-19 and had the launch ramp open. He has live baits, tackle, gas available and says that now the only things he’s not doing are the RV and boat dock.
For fishing in his area, Charlie says, “Our catfish are doing well on nightcrawlers. There is hardly any river flow right now, and they are on the backside of the jetties, about 15 feet from the tip of the jetty going out. They are doing fairly good.
“I had a guy come in who is a pole fisherman, and he hadn’t been in in over a year. Him and his son had some real nice 5-, 6-pound and a bunch of 3-pound catfish. That was on nightcrawlers.”
He also says that black bass appear to be sitting on top of the jetty. Anglers are using plastic baits and jigging or popping them — “lift up, pull and drop, lift up, pull and drop,” Charlie says. A few bass were caught in about 5 feet of water on top of the jetty in the late evening, he said.
Drum are also being caught with catfish, he reports. “And the guy I was talking about who caught all the catfish, he caught a needle-nosed gar that was two-thirds the length of his boat and about scared the heck out of him. He’d never seen anything like that.”
Little Maumelle River
(updated 4-8-2021) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) says clarity has cleared. The water level and current are normal. Crappie improved to good this week. They’re still being found fairly shallow at 3-4 feet depth; use minnows and jigs. Black bass bounced back with good catches. They are on the bank or in shallow water. Use a spinnerbait, a soft plastic worm or swimbaits. Catfish will after yo-yos baited with minnows at night. The catches were good this week. Bream still haven’t shown up yet.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Toad Suck Lock and Dam was 68,912 cfs.
No reports.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)
On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam was 66,149 cfs. Flow at the Terry Lock and Dam was 73,828 cfs.
(updated 4-8-2021) Fish ‘N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said Wednesday that the flow is starting to go down, while the water is stained and a little high. Bass are good on black/blue Chatterbait, chartreuse/black crankbaits, a black/blue jig, and white/chartreuse spinnerbaits just off the main river and in the backwaters. Crappie are good in 4-5 feet of water behind some of the jetties on orange/chartreuse, white/chartreuse and blue/chartreuse crappie jigs.
(updated 4-8-2021) Hatchet Jack’s Sports Shop in Crystal Hill off I-40 (758-4958) suggests that anglers look for 60-degree plus water temperature. The shallow water bite is good for bass and crappie. Bream and catfish are deeper offshore.
(updated 4-1-2021) Zimmerman’s Exxon (501-944-2527) said crappie are excellent below the Terry Lock and Dam and Murray Lock and Dam on crappie petit minnows. White bass are good on pearl-colored Lil’ Fishies below the Terry and Murray dams. Bream are out deep (6-8 feet) now and are biting crickets in the backwaters of the Willow Beach area.
Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool)
(updated 3-25-2021) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the lake remains slightly stained and the water level is normal. Anglers are catching good amounts of crappie on minnows and jigs. Catfish are beginning to bite, with skipjack working. Nothing was reported on bream or bass.
Peckerwood Lake
(update 4-8-2021) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) reports that the lake clarity remains dingy and the water level is high. Some bream are being caught, though not many. Overall, the bream bite is poor. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good on jigs. Catfish are good on yo-yos, jigs and minnows.
White River
(updated 4-8-2021) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said the White River is flowing very fast and deep through the Arkansas Ozarks, so be prepared to add weight to your line, go deep and get ready for a fight because the trout have never been healthier and stronger.
“Some say the browns are getting lazy, though; they don’t have to search for food since it’s coming right at them all the time from banks saturated with the high water. So, put your bait right in front of them and flash it around. From Wildcat Shoals to the top of Buffalo Shoals, White River anglers have been well rewarded when fishing upstream or down from Cotter.
“The big winner this week was the No. 5 Rainbow Rapala Countdown. But we’ve had a day or two of very finicky fish; keep moving and you’ll come across a deeper hole where you’ll find the trout getting out of the fast water. Lower your weighted line with a bit of shrimp as close to the bottom as you can and you’ll likely feel a tug before you reach the bottom.
“Come to the river and discover your little haven of serenity. We’ll help you find your way there.”
(updated 4-8-2021) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said they are still not seeing a lot of rainbows, noting that there has only been one stocking this season. More brown trout are being caught than rainbow trout, they say. Anglers are using pink worms, PowerBait and shrimp. Fly-fishermen are using really big flies to get down to the bottom. The river clarity is “pretty clear, slightly clear” and the river level this week has been high. Overall trout bite is fair, they said.
(updated 4-8-2021) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Monday that during the past week they had a minor rain event (just a trace in Cotter), warmer temperatures and heavy winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 2.1 feet to rest at 9.5 feet above seasonal power pool of 659 feet msl. This is 26.5 feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock fell 0.4 foot to rest at 0.5 foot above seasonal power pool and 15.5 feet above the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.2 foot to rest at 2.1 feet above seasonal power pool and 7.5 feet below the top of flood pool. The White had no wadable water. Norfork Lake fell 1.3 feet to rest at 5.9 feet above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 20.3 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork tailwater had no wadable water. Due to recent rain, all of the lakes in the White River system are now above normal pool.
On the heavy flows fishing has been spotty. The hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The hot flies were olive Woolly Buggers (sizes 8, 10), Y2Ks (sizes 14, 12), prince nymphs (size 14), zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead sizes 16, 18), pheasant tails (size 14), ruby midges (size 18), root beer midges (size 18), pink and cerise San Juan worms (size 10), and sowbugs (size 16). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (John’s current favorite combination is a San Juan worm and egg pattern; use long leaders and lots of lead).
Remember that the White and North Fork rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported the lake’s elevation at 667.03 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl). The reported lake elevation at Table Rock Lake was 915.19 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 915.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-8-2021) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock says it’s spring and there’s early pre-spawn. “There has been a wave up. Target south-facing creeks, secondary points and pockets with a little warmer water close to spawning areas. Dirty water has some warmer temps but are also the first to cool off.
“Afternoon bite has been better. The shad are breaking up. Look for loons and gulls in the creeks. Jerkbait and swimbait powerfish on windy cloudy days. Bright spinnerbait, or a Chatterbait, for dirty and shallow. If it’s clear, flat shaky head and the ol’ Ned rig.
“The backs of creeks have a little color change. Crankbaits, Wiggle Wart and Rock Crawlers are working. Look for windy steeper banks with nasty rock.Fish in 4-10 feet and match the colors with water clarity. Bright fire-red or blue chartreuse for dirty water. Red and green craw are working in the clear water. You can always catch them on a jig in the channel swings.” Del says he’s been Beaver flipping in shallow lay downs, when brush becoming a player. “Fish the conditions,” he says.
Follow Del’s YouTube page (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock) for more tips and updates from Bull Shoals.
The lake is murky with a surface temperature ranging 59 to mid-60s degrees. The water level is high, about 9 feet above normal pool and rising.
Norfork Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported the lake’s elevation at 558.80 feet msl (normal conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl; April-Sept. 555.75 feet msl).
No reports.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 4-8-2021) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake fell 1.3 feet to rest at 5.9 feet above seasonal power pool of 553.75 feet msl and 20.3 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork tailwater had no wadable water. Due to recent rain all of the lakes in the White River system are now above power pool.
The Norfork is fishing well. Navigate this stream with caution as things have changed a bit during recent flooding. There has been major gravel recruitment at the bottom of Mill Pond and the dock hole. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns (sizes 18, 20, 22) like ruby midges, root beer midges, zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead) and soft hackles (sizes 14, 16) like the Green Butt. Egg patterns have also been productive. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a San Juan worm and egg pattern combination.
Dry Run Creek is fishing well. There is increased pressure with warmer weather. Fish early or late to avoid the crowds (the creek is open to fishing from sunrise to sundown). The Norfork National Fish Hatchery is open but the restrooms remain closed. The hot flies have been sowbugs (size 14), Y2Ks (size 12), various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise size 10), mop flies and egg patterns.
Remember that the White and North Fork rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soles that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
John also says, “I was attending a birthday party a couple of weeks ago (everyone had been vaccinated). I had a conversation with my friend Dennis Galyardt about tiger trout. He is a retired guide and teacher who spends half his time here and half in Colorado. Dennis is an accomplished angler and is also a key member of the Sowbug Roundup committee. We were both intrigued with tiger trout.
“What is a tiger trout? It is a sterile crossbreed of the brown and brook trout. Other crossbreeds are a cuttbow (a cross between a cutthroat and a rainbow trout) or a labradoodle (a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle). This is considered an anomaly in nature because the species are quite different. The brown trout is a European breed known for its ability to survive in tough conditions. The brook trout is actually a char that is native to the east coast of the United States and is known for its stringent requirement for clean cold water. The brook trout has 84 chromosomes and the brown has 80.
“The tiger trout has the coloration of the brown and the vermiculations (the worm-like markings) of the brook — this gives it a tiger-like appearance. It also has the white leading edge on its fins.
“We knew that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had stocked some tiger trout at Bull Shoals that it acquired from Wyoming and raised at the Jim Hinkle State Fish Hatchery on the Spring River, to provide us with a new variety of trout to catch. We had also read that during a recent shocking census of Dry Run Creek the AGFC had found a tiger trout. How did it get there?
“This gives us two possibilities. One is that the tiger trout was stocked at Bull Shoals and migrated to Dry Run Creek. This is a trip of 50 miles. How and why would this happen? That is a long, difficult trip in a boat. But to swim there would be incredible.
“The second possibility is that the tiger trout was born there. Both brook and brown trout species are present and conditions on Dry Run Creek are pristine. I have not seen any evidence that this has occurred nor have I heard any. That would be a long shot at best.
“A week later, I got a phone call from Dennis. His grandson, Rohan, was visiting and they spent a substantial portion of six days during the visit on Dry Run Creek. In the process, they caught a tiger trout. It was a nice 14-inch female. Rohan caught it on a size 18 red midge.
“This is fantastic. Rohan was stoked. I was a bit jealous. I have never caught a tiger trout. It is on my bucket list. Congratulations, Rohan. I am ready to try for a tiger trout for my clients.”
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 4-8-2021) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are clearing. With the cool temperatures the bite is still slow. John’s favorite fly is a Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
Beaver Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,122.35 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 1,120.43 feet msl).
(updated 4-8-2021) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake remains stable at 1,122.42 feet msl, which is a foot and a half over normal pool. Water temps range from mid-50s to lower 60s depending on location. Water is clear near the dam and more stained the further south you go. “Stripers are still good one day, slow the next. Look from Prairie Creek up into the river arms. Look for shad and stripers will be nearby.
“On that note, the shad kill looks to have really thinned the shad out. Probably good, especially for striper fishermen. We will have to see. The lake was loaded the last four years.
“Bass are pre-spawn hitting stick baits and cranks. Crappie are on the move to the banks. I have seen them go from 10 feet to 5 feet in the last few days. Crappie fishing is good and getting better with time. White bass are fair to good. Look up the White River and the War Eagle. Walleye are fair to good, also, with lots of shorts still being caught. Bream are good. Been catching some big ones jigging for crappie. Catfish should be coming on. Next few weeks look for bass and crappie to be in beds. If rain holds off and no floods occur, this will be a good spawn this year.”
(updated 4-8-2021) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) reports that walleye are good this week on grubs. Bream are fair on redworms and crickets. Crappie are good; fish minnows or jigs around the brushpiles. Black bass are being caught in shallow water and the bite is good. Crankbaits, jerkbaits and worms are working best. Catfish are fair, with minnows being used. The lake is clear on the big end, while the river side is muddy. Surface water temperature is ranging 58-60 degrees. The level is normal.
Beaver Tailwater
(updated 4-1-2021) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said, “Trout fishing has been great this past week. The Corp has been generating more towards the morning hours, but if you can get out on a boat, you will be fine. Most of the fish are being caught with light terminal tackle, fished with various baits. Pautzke Firegel and Fire baits have been the ticket! Spoons and small crankbaits coated in Firegel have done great as well. Mouse tails, used while drift fishing have also put some nice fish in the boat, when the water is flowing. Most fish are being caught near Spider creek, I would say that this would be the “hot spot”. If you’re looking for white bass, Kentucky bass or even walleye, you need to be focusing your attention more downstream towards Beaver Town. You need to use your graph to locate the fish, then try to pick them off. Try looking for them in inside bends, in about 13 FOW. Tossing an A-rig with white grubs, or pulling flickers shads, should produce some fish. We have yet another cold snap coming in, so bundle up. Hope you are able to get out and catch some fish!
On a side note, I would like to give my condolences to the Green family. Mr. Green was an avid fisherman and visitor to the Tailwaters. Mr. Green loved reading the AGFC fishing reports, then calling me to squeeze “just a little more” info. I have fished with Mr. Green and it was obvious, fishing the Tailwaters was a true passion of his.
Remember to follow Austin’s Fishing Facebook page (Busch Mountain Guide Service) for daily and weekly updates.
War Eagle/White River
(updated 4-1-2021) Loy Lewis of War Eagle Creek Outfitting LLC says the water has cleared up and the fishing is happening. White bass fishing is great in the War Eagle Mills area down to the confluence of White River by Nob Hill and then up to the Twin Bridges of White River. Bass boats and motored flat-bottom boats can usually motor up to Mills Dam, so kayaks and canoes will be better with bright colors and close to the bank. All Beaver Lake fish species will be held up by Mills Dam back down to Beaver Lake – awesome fishing!
Smallmouth bass fishing is great from Huntsville War Eagle accesses downriver to the War Eagle AGFC access, to Smallmouth Rapids north of Hindsville to the War Eagle Mill area – 38 miles of options for kayak and canoe floating with 24 miles of great smallmouth bass fishing!Anglers will also want to know that on the Kings River, from Marble to Marshall Ford to Rock House, the river is running right with some good smallmouth bass fishing!
The north end of Beaver Lake is awesome around the no wake zone cove end of Big Clifty arm cove. It’s great for kayak and canoe fishing and there is great shoreline fishing on both sides of Hogscald Cove. Spotted bass, drum, catfish and largemouth bass are excellent now. The Clifty side can be accessed from Arkansas Highway 127 north on Madison County Road 8455; 8465 ends at lake access. On the Eureka Springs side, take Arkansas Highway 23 to Carroll County Road 108, left on County Road 148, past Lovers Leap Bluff and take the next left; road ends at the lake access.
For bass boats, stay on Carroll County Road 108 to Big Clifty Arm paved boat access. Has wide waters to sight fish for schools in the main lake channel.
Follow War Eagle Creek Outfitting LLC on Facebook for water conditions, and don’t forget the valet shuttle service offered to make floating easy and give you more time for fishing and have your vehicle at landings!
Lake Fayetteville
(updated 4-8-2021) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is slightly stained. Surface temperature Wednesday afternoon was in the high 50s. The level is high. Bream continue to bite better; anglers had good catches using redworms, crickets and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Black bass are good using crankbaits, jerkbaits, minnows and jigs. No reports on catfish.
Lake Fort Smith
No report.
Lake Sequoyah
(updated 4-8-2020) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said Wednesday that the lake looks a little stained but is at a normal water level. Crappie are being caught in 6-8 feet depth and are good on minnow and crankbaits. Black bass fishing is best around structures this week. Anglers report a good bite; crankbaits and swimbaits are working. The catfish bite is fair. Channel cats are biting “OK,” they report, while blues and flatheads are “pretty slow.” Use nightcrawlers. Bream went back into hiding this week; no reports.
Lake Charles
(updated 4-8-2021) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said that while crappie is typically the target here, it’s black bass and catfish that were biting the best the past week. Bass were good for anglers using crankbaits or plastic works. They were finding bass around the brush and rocky points. Catfishing was good using worms, blood bait, stink bait or chicken liver. Crappie were not reported, and neither were bream. The surface temperature Monday morning was 65 degrees. The water level is high and clarity is murky.
Lake Poinsett
(updated 3-25-2021) Seth Boone, the superintendent at the Lake Poinsett State Park visitor center (870-578-2064), says Lake Poinsett is filling up right now. The gate at the dam at Lake Poinsett was closed on Dec. 1, following the completion of a renovation, allowing the lake to begin refilling with rainwater. The lake, at Lake Poinsett State Park, has been undergoing a three-year renovation with a new water control structure, more than 10,000 linear feet of shoreline work, more than 100 habitat structures placed on the lakebed, and nearly 100 trees anchored for fish habitat with more anchoring in the plans as the lake begins to refill.
When the lake has enough water for stocking, channel catfish will be stocked to give anglers target fish to seek, while prey fish such as shiners and shad will be stocked. After the prey fish have established a base over the next year or so, predator fish such as largemouth bass and crappie will then be stocked.
Crown Lake
(updated 4-8-2021) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) reports that the lake has cleared and the water level has dropped to normal. Bream made a big appearance this week with good results seen. Redworms worked best. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. The crappie are around the brushpiles. Bass are good on crankbaits and jerkbaits. No reports on catfish.
Spring River
(updated 4-8-2021) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are at 430 cfs (350 cfs is average flow) and water clarity has started to clear up. “Looking much better this week. Heavy rains could change that. Latest rain has gone to the south of us,” Mark said Thursday morning.
The trout have been holding deep since last week. Plenty of fish, you just have to make sure and get the fly down. Heavy flies have been very productive. Olive, brown and white Woolly Buggers have been hot. Don’t be afraid to use a split shot to get down. Trout Magnets in white and hot pink are working well and brown trout and rainbow trout trout cranks for going after the big fish.
Mark adds, “The first smallie float trip happened this week. Was slow but caught several smallmouth and a few nice trout. Olive sculpins were the only flies we could get the fish to bite. Water levels need to come down some more and warm weather would be good.
“The smallies this week were focused on sculpin patterns in olive. Couldn’t get much action on anything else.”
For latest updates on river conditions visit or blog on Mark’s website at springriverfliesandguides.com.
(updated 4-8-2021) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the Spring River is fishing well. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash (size 10), cerise and hot pink San Juan worms (size 10) and Y2Ks (size 10).
White River
The Army Corps of Engineers reported Thursday that the White River stage at Batesville was at 11.52 feet, 3.5 feet below the flood stage of 15.0 feet. The Newport stage was at 22.27, about 4 feet below flood stage of 26.0 feet. The stage at Augusta is still very high at 31.65 feet, more than 5 feet above flood stage of 26.0 feet.
(updated 3-25-2021) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water has cleared and is at a normal level. Walleye reports have come in, with anglers reporting a fair bite using jigs, minnows and crankbaits. Bass are fair; try plastics, jigs and Baby Brush Hogs. No other reports.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
(updated 4-8-2021) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no new reports.
Cane Creek Lake
(updated 4-8-2021) Jeff Shell, superintendent at Cane Creek State Park, said Cane Creek Lake water temperatures are running in the low 60s. Water clarity is about 2 feet. Crappie fishing is on right now. Reports are coming in that they can be found at a depth of around 2-3 feet and are being caught on minnows and crappie jigs. Electric Chicken is your best jig color. Bass are falling into a spring pattern and can be found fishing around structure. Spinnerbaits and soft plastics are starting to produce results. Catfish are being caught on trotlines and limblines using large minnows and various attractant baits such as chicken liver.
Lake Chicot
(updated 4-8-2021) Brian Whitson, park interpreter at Lake Chicot State Park (870-265-5480), had no report.
Lake Monticello
(updated 4-8-2021) The lake is undergoing a repair to the dam by the City of Monticello and the AGFC is making improvements to the fish habitat while the lake is currently drawn down for the dam work.
Millwood Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 259.68 feet msl (normal pool: 259.20 feet msl).
(updated 4-8-2021) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said that as of Tuesday, Millwood Lake clarity is heavy stain from recent thunderstorms and is approximately 3 inches above normal conservation pool and falling; oxbows’ water clarity is stained, while Little River has increased stain from current. Gate discharge at the dam was around 3,000 cfs in Little River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The tailwater below the dam and gates, around 229 feet msl and falling with discharge. 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 remain stable this week, ranging 60-69 degrees, depending on location. Continue to use caution in navigation on Little River and Millwood watching for random broken or floating timber. Lots of Little River buoy markers have been replaced along the main lake channel. Use extreme caution in navigation on main lake.
As for fishing details:
* Largemouth bass: Bass have been in varying degrees of annual spawning mode for three past 3-4 weeks on Millwood. Most of the oxbows up and along Little River are seeing post-spawn largemouths and pre-spawn crappie. Brazalo Spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse, Millwood Mayhem Bream and Spot Remover caught decent bass over the past two weeks, and Chatterbaits again picked up some healthy 3-to 7-pound largemouths this week. “Most bass we are finding continue randomly roaming shallow on full sun and bright skies in the 3-6 foot depths of flats adjacent to deeper drops into 7-10 feet depth ranges,” Siefert says. “The best period this week is during the late morning. Anywhere a creek channel runs near spawning flats with vertical structure nearby, where stumps and creek mouths drop, have held some decent-sized bass over the past few weeks. NUMEROUS largemouth bass over 10-11 pounds each, have been weighed in over the past several weeks. A big spawning, 10.25-pound female largemouth was recently caught at Millwood State Park and weighed in at the Millwood State Park Marina.”
Bass Assassin Shads continue to draw good reactions, and salt and pepper Silver Phantom, Grey Ghost or Houdini colors continue to be the go-to choices. Best colors of Bugs and Beavers have been Black Neon, Grasshopper, Blackberry and Pearl Bream. Custom-poured Senkos and Zoom Trick Worms are working on stumps and cypress trees in 3-8 feet depths. Heavy thumper tail swimbaits and Beavers on a Jackhammer Chatterbait in Spot Remover or Blue Glimmer are working, and Trick Worms in black/blue, Blue Ice and Purple Smoke are catching bass. Bulky lizards in Blackberry, Blue Bayou, black/blue tail and Watermelon Candy continue taking a few good bass this week on flooded cypress trees, stumps,and along vegetation lines in ditches, creeks and flats from 3-8 feet deep, where bass were exploring new bed-making locations near flooded timber and cypress trees.
* White bass: They continue their annual spawning run upriver between Cemetery Slough and U.S. Highway 71 at Wilton Landing along Little River this week. Numerous white bass anglers are connecting in the 3-pound class along the river on Rocket Shads, Little Georges, Chuck’n Spins, Rooster Tails, spoons and crankbaits. The white bass began their annual spawning run up Little River over the past couple weeks and are running up Little River to headwaters for the spawn.
* Crappie: Have been much improved again this week on minnows and jigs in Bee Lake, on the open lake section, in pockets along South Hickory Creek, and in oxbows of Mud Lake and McGuire up Little River. Crappie are holding in 6-8 feet depth this week and are staging to move shallow over the next week or so.
* Cats: Continue to bite consistently in Horseshoe and Mud Lake oxbows up Little River on yo-yos and limblines using King’s Punch Bait, chicken livers, gizzards and hot dogs.
Lake Columbia
(updated 4-8-2021) Sportsman’s One Stop in El Dorado (870-863-7248) had no report.
Lake Greeson Tailwater
Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.
Lake Greeson
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at Narrows Dam was 540.71 feet msl (full pool: 548.00 feet msl).
No reports.
DeGray Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 406.18 feet msl (full pool: 408.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-8-2020) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service (501-844-5418) said the spawn is on. “I’ve been catching crappie everywhere from 3 feet deep to 12 feet deep. For the conservation-minded, the males are on beds in the shallower water. Leave them to their business and harvest some of the females on the staging brushpiles.”
(update 4-8-2021) Local angler Charles Abernathy says the water temp has been up and down a little. “We’ve had some rain off and on. We’ve had some warm days and we still had some overnight chills during spring break as normal, but by the time you read this the temps should be stable at 60 degrees or more. These temps remaining 60-plus are really going to turn these crappie on and get a plenty supply up shallow for those who prefer to fish that way.
“I’ve fished Greeson, Dierks and DeGray over the last couple of weeks and I’ve done the same thing at all three places and have had pretty good success. I have only been targeting fish staged in the middle of pockets (some have timber and some don’t).Some days there’s a lot and some days you can tell some have moved, but even with the inventory being down some days, there is still enough fish to leave with a good mess.
“With this forward-looking technology that we have, there is really no need to go to the bank because these fish don’t all spawn at the same time, just like doe deer don’t go into estrus at the same time. At this point the fish that are waiting to move up to spawn are with the fish that have already moved back out after dumping their eggs. I am catching fish that are fat and full of eggs right alongside fish that have clearly already dumped their eggs.
“The point of sharing this is to emphasize: If you want to fish the banks, now is the time. If you don’t want to fish the banks you can still target those pre-spawn and post-spawn fish because both categories are hungry and they are occupying the same space (the reason I prefer to target those this time of year). I am throwing at single fish most of the time in open water because that is where the most consistent size is at and the ones that are typically most willing to put a lure in their mouth.”
Lennox, Cox Creek, Point Cedar, Brushy, Shouse Ford are all hot spots for spawning crappie, he says, and all have some good protected pockets with good firm banks to comb with some structure. If you are fishing shorelines, the only way to do it is to just comb through them, or use previous history, or use intel from others (“or find a Livescoper in the middle of a pocket catching fish and then comb those banks, he-he-he”).
“I’ve published several videos on my YouTube channel and show what baits I’m using and how I’m fishing (and most of the time even where). I’m also showing the screen at times with depth, which might be beneficial if you don’t have one. I generally put one out every week. If you haven’t checked it out, please do.I hope it’s helpful to someone.
“I get quite a few emails and I enjoy reading/responding to every one of them. Thank you so much for reading these and thanks to everyone for letting me know. As always, feel free to reach out at c.abernathy32@gmail.com for more info. Good luck out there and be safe and be nice. A lot of fish are being caught right now and we are truly blessed to live in Arkansas and have access to some wonderful crappie fisheries. Get out there and enjoy them!”
(updated 4-8-2019) John Duncan of yoyoguideservice.com at Iron Mountain Marina said, “Well, I finally caught up on habitat insertion and got to go out on the water. The lake level is 406.32 feet msl. Water temperature is in the mid-60s. About the only thing I have had time to gather for a report is crappie. Reports are very mixed and they change daily. As of Tuesday, fish were being caught in the shallows in 3-4 feet of water. You can also find them on the tops of brushpiles up to 30 feet deep. Casting jigs to the shoreline with slow retrieve is a staple for DeGray. Lots of fish full of eggs. Best method I’ve recently found was staying off brushpiles and cast to them. Use pink or chartreuse ⅛-ounce heads with various colors. Tennessee Shad and Monkey Milk are producing well. Bright colors have been the best for me. After they slow down, change colors for a final few. After you pull all you can with casting jigs, move over it with minnows. Be aware to check your minnow sources. Some places are running out early.
“The spawning fish seem to be moving toward Arlie Moore area. Even have good reports up toward the State Park. Move till you find ’em.
“Lots of catfishing going on around the lake. Trotlines are all over. These guys do a great job of keeping their lines low enough to motor over them.
“The last report I got on black bass was a floating worm was producing.
“Good fishing. Be safe and courteous.”
De Queen Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 437.46 feet msl (full pool: 437.00 feet msl).
Dierks Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 526.41 feet msl (full pool: 526.00 feet msl).
(update 4-8-2021) Local angler Charles Abernathy made a stopover this past week at Dierks and says big crappie are biting well there.
SOUTH-CENTRAL
White Oak Lake
(updated 3-25-2021) Curtis Willingham of River Rat Bait (870-231-3831) said water clarity remains muddy and the level is high. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair using minnows, jigs and shiners. Bass are good on spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Catfish are fair; use worms.
Felsenthal
No reports.
Lake Atkins
(updated 4-1-2021) Donald Ramirez at Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said no anglers had been out lately as the conditions on Lake Atkins had been too windy and c choppy, so he had no catch reports. The lake clarity is clear and the level is high. When the conditions were right a couple of weeks ago, the crappie were good for anglers using either minnows or Bobby Garland Jigs. Bass were good on plastic worms in size 10 or 12. Catfish were biting on worms and hot dogs at that time.
Lake Catherine
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro
Lake Catherine (Below Carpenter Dam)
For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro
(updated 4-8-2021) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 53 degrees with stained conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has issued a 10-hour flow pattern this week to start Friday at noon and ending at 10 p.m. The weekly generation schedule is posted on the Entergy website each Wednesday afternoon and anyone planning to use the Carpenter Dam tailrace is advised to check out the report. Both lakes Hamilton and Catherine are now refilled to normal summertime pools and will remain at these levels until mid-November. Thousands of rainbow trout are present and feeding on injured threadfin shad drawn through the dam from Lake Hamilton. Because of the huge influx of prey items, these fish are harder to catch and patience must be used for success. Trout are extremely difficult to catch in stained or muddy water, and big drops in temperature shut down the bite. Local guides are still experiencing low catch rates of trout. Constant cold fronts and storms are complicating matters. It may take until the first couple of weeks in April or longer for a consistent bite to occur. Fly-fishermen can still wade to areas that hold numbers of trout and should use a fly that imitates something other than a shad. Worm imitations, such as a San Juan worm in red or hot pink, can produce good catches of rainbow trout in current or slackwater conditions. Woolly Buggers in green or black are a time-honored fly that will produce results casted with a strike indicator. Egg pattern flies in orange or white have drawn strikes from finicky trout stuffed from threadfin shad feeding. Bank anglers have a chance at catching limits of fish by using PowerBaits and redworms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater. Much larger trout have been released in March and April below area dams with spring officially underway.
The walleye spawn is in full swing and has not been adversely affected by water levels or clarity. Anglers can catch these fish by trolling shallow-running crankbaits against the current effectively now because lake levels are back to normal. Tipping a jighead with a live minnow over and around sandbars and rock structure is another proven technique to catch spawning walleye. White bass have migrated into the tailrace and are being caught on small jigs and minnows fished under a bobber. Anglers need to concentrate their efforts below the bridge in the main channel. The crappie spawn has gotten off to a slow start this season, but small catches have been reported this past week in the fast-flowing waters below Carpenter Dam. The white bass and crappie are crowded close together in the tailrace with both species caught over sandbars and rock structure. A small minnow fished under a bobber has been the most effective method used in the early morning before the turbines come on. Larger females will migrate into the area as the males have been present to prepare the spawning beds.
Always wear a life jacket when on the water and wear a mask and observe social distancing when encountering others.
Lake Dardanelle
(updated 4-8-2021) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-647-9945) said water temperature in the main river is 58 degrees, with backwater areas in the 70s. Some of the creeks are warmer than the others; they are ranging 56-59 degrees. Some creeks are clean and some are still pretty dirty — the dirtier creeks seem to be the warmer of the creeks. Bass have been on fire with an excellent topwater bite early and late and just before and during the storm fronts. There’s still a good spinnerbait and crankbait bite in some of the creeks, with a Senko bite on the spawning flats and a great jig bite in river pockets. Lizards, as well as Space Monkeys, have been working great along stumps.
Crappie have been great and suspended in some places, scattered in other areas. Many crappie this week have been caught on bass lures. Fishing minnows and jigs along the grassy banks and the larger stumps will put crappie in the boat; still, bright colors have been working the best. Try chartreuse, chartreuse/black, Electric Chicken or Cajun Cricket. Some are still being caught deep but a lot have been shallow, as shallow as a foot.
White bass and stripers are in the larger creeks; use swimbaits, topwater poppers, spoons, and inline spinners. Bream have been good on worms and crickets around treetops and around dead grass on the rock dikes. Catfish have been fair and improving just inside the pockets along the current line. Cut shad, skipjack and stink bait have been working best.+
(updated 4-1-2021) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood reports that the water is a little high with muddy to stained clarity. Bass are good on white spinnerbaits and white/chartreuse spinners, as well as Jackhammer Chatterbait and black/blue and green pumpkin Senkos in shallow and grassy areas.
Lake Hamilton
(updated 4-8-2021) Greeson Marine, hometown dealer of the Arkansas-born-and-bred Xpress all-welded aluminum fishing boats in Hot Springs, reports Lake Hamilton’s temps in the low 60s in most areas. All species of fish are red hot right now! Largemouth and spotted bass are feeding aggressively in the shallow areas that lead into pockets of the lakes. Bass are smashing several types of baits but the main focus is on a bubblegum floating Trick Worm and a jig like the Slycked Back Rowdy Ravager and Copper Crawler, AKA Copper colored and green and brown. Fish are holding tight to structure of any kind but especially seawalls that are reinforced or docks in the 8-feet-or-less water range. It is imperative that you make every attempt to touch the structures with your baits.
Bream are smoking hot right now along with crappie in 10-20 feet of water over and on submerged brush. A worm or minnow on a cork will fill a cooler quickly! Hybrids are scattered everywhere the bream and bass are, so don’t get too focused on one species. “No doubt, you will catch all types a day. Get out there now folks! Boat traffic is already getting heavy. Be safe and Go Greeson!”
(updated 4-8-2020) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service (501-844-5418) said the crappie are working the spawn just like the black bass. For the conservation-minded, the males are on beds in the shallower water. Leave them to their business and harvest some of the females on the staging brushpiles. White bass are schooled up in the back of the larger creek arms.
Lake Nimrod
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 345.51 feet msl (normal pool: 342.0 feet msl).
(updated 4-8-2021) Andrews Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025) said the lake is “pretty clear” this week. Surface water temperature has warmed to 65 degrees, and the water level is still high. Bream continue to bite well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are very shallow now, about 2-3 feet depth on the shoreline. The bite is good. Use minnows or jigs. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits (go with white) or Chatterbait. Catfish also continue to bite well; use shad, nightcrawlers and fish with trotlines. Last week, a 72-pound flathead catfish was reported caught.
Lake Ouachita
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at Blakely Dam was 576.64 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).
(updated 4-8-2020) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service (501-844-5418) said, “Just like at DeGray Lake, the spawn is on at Lake Ouachita. In both lakes I’ve been catching crappie everywhere from 3-12 feet deep. For the conservation-minded, the males are on beds in the shallower water. Leave them to their business and harvest some of the females on the staging brushpiles.”
(updated 4-1-2021) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out of state) reports that black bass are very good. Jighead/Texas-rigged Brush Hog and floating worm bite is working. Try pockets 2-10 feet deep and work them slow. Walleye are still fair and being caught on Shad Raps and jerkbaits over points on the river channels. Stripers are still excellent. These fish are being caught on live bait and Alabama rigs. Bream are still fair and picking up on worms and crickets. Crappie are very good. Try a small jig or minnow near brush in 12-20 feet of water. Catfish are good and being caught on limblines and trotlines with live or cut bait.
Water temperature is ranging 58-62 degrees. The clarity is clearing. Lake level is 577.88 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 389.62 feet msl (full pool: 384.00 feet msl).
No reports.
White River/Clarendon Area
The Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday reported the Clarendon gauge at 28.05 feet, more than 2 foot above flood stage of 26.00 feet.
Horseshoe Lake
(updated 3-25-2021) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) says crappie fishing has been tough as the crappie have scattered with the recent rise in water temperature. Crappie are still being caught in the deep water. Look at 10-12 feet depth. The fishing is slow for bass. A few catfish are being caught shallow.
Cook’s Lake
(updated 4-8-2021) The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Conservation Education Center (870-241-3373) reports that Cooks Lake was set to reopen for youth and mobility-impaired fishing Wednesday, March 3, but the parking lot is flooded and the White River at Clarendon remains over flood stage. Check in with the Education Center to see when it reopens, when water has receded. In the meantime, Wil urges anglers wanting to fish in the area to check out AGFC lakes such as Lake Des Arc or Marion McCollum Lake Greenlee (Brinkley) for some fast-paced fishing action. In both lakes, several species of sunfish have moved shallow on the rip-rap, creating fun bank fishing opportunities for families. The fish are small but a piece of nightcrawler 14 inches under a cork can produce large smiles.
Bear Creek Lake/Storm Creek Lake
(updated 4-8-2021) Tyler Ball, park ranger at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), had no recent reports.
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