Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report

January 8, 2026

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Brandon Suga caught this nice rainbow on the Spring River while fishing with guide Mark Crawford.

Through February, Fishing Reports will run every two weeks (along with no reports on Christmas and New Year’s Day). In between published reports, contact the reporter listed for the lake or stream you plan to fish for the most up-to-date information. The reports will include the most recent information reported to the AGFC from the particular body of water, but email Fishing Report newsletters will only be sent out every other Thursday through February.

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) and Nursery Pond

(updated 1-8-2026) AGFC staff in Mayflower note that while Lake Conway is drawn down for renovation, the Lake Conway Nursery Pond is open for fishing in the immediate area, with bream and trout being reported among catches of late. The 70-acre pond has been stocked by the AGFC with mature bass, crappie, catfish and bream as well as rainbow trout for the cold weather months.
Lake Conway renovation is proceeding on schedule with demolition of the old dam and plans in place for the new dam and weir. Read more here. Also, biologists in the AGFC’s Mayflower regional office note that they’ve heard reports of crappie biting very well from the bank and fishing piers in area lakes, particularly Lake Overcup and Harris Brake Lake. Also, don’t ignore the possibility of a good crappie bite this time of year at Lake Atkins, near Russellville.

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 1-8-2026) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said in his most recent report at the end of 2025 that the generation schedule had been all over the board lately thanks to the up-and-down weather. On the colder days, you’ll usually see the Southwestern Power Administration running more water due to increased power demand. When temperatures warm up, demand drops and so do the releases from Greers Ferry Dam. “We’ve seen anywhere from 2-5 hours of generation, typically two units, with most releases starting around 7 a.m. As always, keep an eye on the USACE Little Rock app before heading out.
He said the bite had been solid. With steady releases, the river was fishing well both wading and from the boat. If you’re wade-fishing in the mornings, start farther downstream and work your way back upstream as the water rises.
The brown trout spawn was in full swing as 2025 wrapped, so please be mindful of where you wade. Avoid stepping on cleared gravel redds (the spawning beds), and take extra care when handling spawning fish.
The hot flies under an indicator are egg patterns (apricot and orange), midge patterns and soft hackles. Streamer fishing has also been very productive during generation. If you’re in the boat and pounding the banks, some top producers have been Double Deceivers, Flatliners and sculpin patterns.

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 12-18-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said largemouth and spotted bass are biting well. You’ll find them biting in 10-15 feet of water on chunk rock banks. Anglers are catching them on half-ounce football jigs, SPRO Rock Crawler in a 50 or 55 size. They’re also catching them off the ends of points on rock piles by LiveScoping with jerkbaits or minnows.

Crappie are being caught in about 20 feet of water on the tops of brushpiles by throwing an 1.8-ounce white jighead. The crappie anglers also are throwing a threadfin shad-color plastic (like a Bobby Garland Baby Shad).

Harris Brake Lake

(updated 12-18-2025) Bing Watkins at Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) said anglers had a great fishing week, especially over the weekend, as decent-sized crappie were caught both out on the lake from boats as well as anglers along the banks.

Boating anglers were catching crappie near the bottom, about 7 feet with the lake low right now. From the bank, crappie could be caught about 5 feet off the shoreline and in about 1-2 feet. Minnows were working best, but jigs also were working.

The water is clear. Bing says she can see the bottom of the lake from the dock. Water from Harris Brake Lake is used for the nearby WMA for waterfowl habitat.

She heard of the occasional bass being caught, but not many. One angler caught a bass at the dock.

“There are lots of shad around the bank right now,” she said. “You can see all the shad from the dock. Lots of birds are out because of the shad, too. Pelicans, seagulls, lots of birds.”

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

Lake Overcup
(updated 1-8-2026) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) off Arkansas Highway 9 (501-354-9007) had no new reports from the lake. In his most recent report, however, he said bass were still chasing shad and being caught on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Bream were being caught with crickets and redworms. 

Catfish were doing well on nightcrawlers and bass minnows. Crappie were being caught in 10-12 feet of water about 6 feet down.

Lake Maumelle
(updated 1-8-2026) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) says the water is hovering around 48-50 degrees and the lake level is 7.5feet below normal pool. New launch ramps are open. The back launch ramp is open and accessible, but they highly recommend users have four-wheel drive to deal with that ramp.

Black bass range from good to fair. Largemouths are good and reportedly being caught deep to 15-25 feet as well as shallow in 2-8 feet of water. Jigs, an Alabama rig and crankbaits are recommended. Spotted bass (aka Kentucky bass) are fair and mixed in with the largemouths in 15-20 feet. Drop-shot, Carolina rigs, jigs and cranks seem to work best. In WestRock Landing’s Winter Series tournament last Saturday, Matt Hedrick found 18.05 pounds of bass on a five-bass stringer, also landing the Big Bass of 5.28 pounds. Daniel Romine brought in 17 pounds.

Crappie are good. Some reports have them roaming around the channel, and they can be found off of brushpiles anywhere from 20-30 feet deep. Try jigs and minnows.

No reports for white bass, bream or catfish. White bass should react to Twister Tails and cranks, bream might take a jig or worm, and catfish typically can be caught on Lake Maumelle using bream, chicken liver and worms.

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 12-18-2025) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the crappie are doing really well.

Water is normal, clear: good, clear green condition. Crappie are about 8-9 feet deep. Catch them on jigs and minnows. Bobby Garland jigs and tube jigs have been successful in primarily shad colors. The water is full of baitfish now, he said.

Bass are also fairly deep, catching them on deep-running crankbaits. Bream-colored cranks will work best — “chartreuses, oranges and things like that, bright colors,” Ray said.

Nothing reported on catfish or bream.

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 12-18-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) said catfish (channels and blues) are biting mainly just off the dam side on the edge of the current using cut shad or nightcrawlers, and using a 5- or 6-ounce bank sinker.

Peckerwood Lake 

(updated 1-8-2026) Donna Mulherin at Herman’s Landing (501-626-6899) said Peckerwood is closed to fishing until the end of waterfowl season while it serves as a waterfowl rest area for migrating birds. The lake will reopen for fishing Feb. 9.

White River

Cotter Area
(updated 1-8-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Bull Shoals Lake is still below power pool elevation (sitting at 655.48 feet msl); expect low generation (one to three units) most of each day. However, the Army Corps of Engineers may increase releases when winter weather ramps up the need for power, so always keep an eye on releases for safe wading. We’ve experienced some cold mornings, but the daytime

temperatures have been unusually warm. Plus, we’re on the upside of short, winter days — meaning more sunlight every day, and more time catching fish.

“With the significant weather fluctuations we’ve experienced, you’ll be most successful baiting your No. 6 or No. 8 trout hook with a mashup of shrimp and scented PowerBait. The browns have responded well to sculpins, river minnows — especially red fin minnows if you can find them — and shad. Lunker brown fishing is just around the corner with the official end of the spawn, so unpack those Rapala Countdowns (or floaters for really low water levels): gold/black, silver/black or the rainbow pattern.

“Trout fishing tip of the day: Keep a taut line, leave your rod alone as much as possible and refrain from reeling except to keep the line tight — until you get a bite. Listen to, and take advice from, your guide, even if it differs from the way you may have caught fish in the past. They want you to be successful and to catch fish!

“Happy New Year! Enjoy the great outdoors in The Natural State of Arkansas in 2026.”

Calico Rock Area

(updated 1-8-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “We hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. The mild weather and low river conditions have made for pleasant fishing. With the low and clear water, quarter-ounce Colorado spoons in nickel/gold worked well, resulting in some nice limits of rainbows and also some nice 20-inch-plus brown trout.  Fly-fishing with the low and clear water conditions are also in some nice trout. Other methods that have been effective are using jigs (try different ones until finding what the trout like that day), Rapala Countdowns (again, try different ones) and Little Cleo in gold, gold/fire stripe and silver (on cloudy days). 

There is potential of storms moving through the area Thursday and Friday. The forecast isn’t showing a lot of rain, so hopefully the river won’t become muddy. “If you are in the Little Rock area this weekend, swing by the Marine Expo at the Statehouse Convention Center and stop by our booth.” 

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 1-8-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302), delcolvinfishing.com, said Wednesday that the lake level is 655 feet msl; water temp is 51 degrees, give or take. Bass fishing has been good to fair. Power fishermen: A Wiggle Wart and SPRO Rock Crawler are patterns that are working; try red craw variants or the Mo craw. Work the steeper, 45-degree nasty rock and ledges, transition banks, chunk rock ledges in the wind. Covering water with wind and clouds. If it’s flat and sunny, come out some, get off the bank. There are always fish to be caught on a jig such as a Jewel ⅝-ounce jig. If you’re out deep around 30-35 feet, try green pumpkin with orange or PB&J variants. On the swings and long run-out points along the channel, try pulling off ledges and bluff ends. Start 10-15 feet early with a half-ounce. Shallower early or lowlight conditions and stained water. 

Try your crank around banks. Offshore, looking at them has been the predominant pattern working for me. There are shad in the creeks but a lot of them are breaking up and moving  deep. Graph time will pay off this time of year. Find the shad, find the fish. Most of the shad seem to suspend down in 50-60 feet over deeper water.  If the shad are 60-80 feet, a lot the fish will suspend up above or off to the sidelines – a smaller 2.8 Tater Shad dead-sticked, or shake a minnow if they are up active. Rapala ice jig will get down fast if they are moving fast. Day to day they will prefer one over the other. Each day is a little different. The post-front days are always going to be rough. Remember: “Fish the conditions!”

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 1-8-2026) Southernwalleye Guide Service (501-365-1606) said walleye fishing patterns have not changed  this past week. Best fishing has been right before passing fronts. They are scattered in small schools on main lake and secondary channel swing points.

Also creek channels have been producing a little more than other locations this past week. Try to locate shad balls in them as the walleye are following them as they move with the wind and water flow.

Try fishing in 8-35 feet of water by drop-shotting a live crawler or minnow. Also try using a ⅜- to 1-ounce white or hcrome jigging spoon or a No. 7 Rapala-type ice jig in the same colors. (The Jigging Rapala has been working in the creek channels by vertical-fishing them in the 50- to 70-foot depths.)

A few fish are  being caught trolling during early mornings and late evenings. When trolling, try a 5-inch jerkbait like a Rattlin’ Rogue or Rapala Husky Jerk. Trolling in 8-15 feet of water at 1.2 mph seems to be a good speed at this time for a reaction bite.
Fishing a 110+1-style jerkbait in 8 -15 feet of water on main lake and secondary points and steeper-sided channel swing banks, where the wind has been blowing into, is where the fish are holding.

(updated 1-8-2026) Crappie 101 Guide Service (870-577-2045) says they’re catching some nice crappie on standing timber and main lake brush in 15-30 feet of water using minnows and Small Fry baits on a 1/16-ounce jig, preferably in a more natural color like Tater Baits Purple Monkey or just a standard Monkey Milk color.

Norfork Lake

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

(updated 1-8-2026) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters (also Facebook.com/stroutfitters or 870-421-1541) guides out of Tracy Ferry Marina. Tom hasn’t had any new reports since the lake turned very hot and stripers were struggling with the conditions. You can visit his website linked above for more information.

Beaver Lake

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

(updated 1-8-2026) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said, Happy New Year! Beaver Lake has come down to 1,117.34 feet msl, or 0.4 feet below normal level. Fishing is starting to really fire up this last week. Water temps have been climbing a bit, and as of (Monday) most areas are right at 50 degrees or a bit below that.

“Stripers are good right now. One problem is they are keying in on half-inch shad, so you can troll with to 4- to 5-inch shad, but it takes some doing to get them to fire on them. Long lines out smaller hooks is the key. 

“Good places to look are Monte Ne out front of Hickory Creek and Point 12. Look for the massive bait returns on graph. 

“Crappie are on structure in 10-17 feet of water. Jigs working. The White and War Eagle arms are fishing good right now. 

“Walleye have begun to move and these water temps dictate that and, if things don’t  go to heck, should be some good early movement. 

“Love this weather, but I know winter is near! Always is this time of the year! 

May 2026 be YOUR year!”

Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates between weekly reports at FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.

Beaver Tailwater

(updated 1-8-2026) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) says winter is settling into the Ozarks, bringing cold mornings and pushing the most productive fishing windows later into the day. The upcoming week features classic temperature swings, with cold starts followed by a midweek warmup. Afternoon highs climb into the upper 50s and low 60s, offering a great window for winter fishing. Those warmer afternoons will offer the most consistent fishing opportunities.
Fishing continues to improve from late morning through the afternoon as sunlight warms the water. Light tackle remains the top producer, with Pautzke Fire Bait, PowerBait and small spoons performing well. Anglers using artificials should downsize and slow everything down — small jerkbaits and Rooster Tails fished with long pauses are drawing the most strikes.

“This should be your weekly game plan: 

• Fish deep and slow on cold mornings,
• Move slightly shallower during warmer afternoons,
• Use natural colors under clouds; add flash when the sun is out.
  “Winter rewards patience on the Beaver tailwater. Adjust to the conditions, fish methodically and you’ll find consistent opportunities even in the cold.

“For regular updates, check out my Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service).”

Lake Fayetteville
(updated 1-8-2026) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) will be closed until Jan. 14. Also, the city of Fayetteville is in the process of changing the operation of the boat dock, but no concrete plans are in place at this time.

Lake Charles

(updated 1-8-2026) Shelly Jeffery reported from Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) just a few days before New Year’s that the water level was very low. Besides the area not receiving much rain of late, Lake Charles’ water is redirected to Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA to flood that area during waterfowl season. Shelly said the only boat ramp with water is the upper parking lot off Arkansas Highway 25 (“the steep boat ramp,” she said). 

Park guests who have been walking to the water said black bass are hitting well, but they did not report the types of bait used. We would expect crankbaits would be working, as well as soft plastic worms, at this time. Fishing is good from and around the shoreline.

The water is murky.

Lake Poinsett

(updated 1-8-2026) Jonathan Wagner at Lake Poinsett State Park did not have a new report in the new year, but his last report before 2025 ended was that Lake Poinsett had seen a steady stream of anglers despite the up-and-down temperatures. Anglers out on boats were having luck with minnows catching bass. It was also reported that some were getting catfish with minnows, too! Shoreline fishing has been a little slower as the fish retreat to deeper waters, but not totally absent.
Lake Poinsett State Park has a bait shop at the park’s visitor information center and sells minnows, redworms, nightcrawlers and other various artificial baits and tackle. The hours for the park’s Visitor Information Center through February are: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Spring River

(updated 1-8-2026) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water flow at the Spring is at 215 cfs (350 cfs is average), while water clarity is clear. “Very low river flow for this time of year. After over 20 years on the river, I have never seen it this low. Very little rainfall in the area over the last many months. Low and clear has made for tough fishing with lighter tippet and generally smaller fly patterns than normal. Lot of caddis and other bugs hatching for great nymph action. And yes, great conditions for dry fly action. 

“Catching a few browns on streamer action using Woollies. Working the banks with deeper water near the current. If you like catching smallies, use the same flies, just fish them deep below falls and riffles. Clouser-style Woollies work well for getting down fast. Water levels are too low for needing sink tips. Long leaders with high sticking techniques will get the fly down. Olive most days is the color, but with all of the baitfish in the Spring, a white baitfish pattern can be very productive, especially on sunny days. Crawfish and leeches are in the water also and are easy to imitate.
“For spin-fishing, Trout Magnets in red, pink and Purple Haze are working for numbers. For smallies, D2 hair jigs fished just off the bottom will work. Olive, black and white are go-to colors on the Spring with hair jigs. Also great for catch-and-release with no flavor and a single hook.
“On the tough days when a bite is hard to find, a Y2K with a nymph dropper can turn the day around. Low river conditions makes for easier wading, but be safe – the rocks are slick. A wading staff can keep you upright when it matters.
“The weather has been crazy: warm days mixed with cold days. Dress warm and stay dry; the cold days can be dangerous, so be careful.”
Visit Mark’s blog (springriverfliesandguides.com) for updates, videos 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 1-8-2028) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team has not had a report to being 2026, but their last report in December showed water temperature in mid-50s and river pool vsibility at 6-8 inches. Black bass were biting well on shad-colored bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and shallow-diving crankbaits on wind-blown points of sand flats and rocky banks. Small dark-colored jigs and soft plastics were effective in calmer weather, especially near wood and docks.
If things turn very cold next week as forecast, expect things to get really slow until spring. 

Cane Creek Lake

(updated 1-8-2026) Shelley Burr at Cane Creek State Park, (870-628-4714) said there have been few if any anglers on Cane Creek of late.
Recently, the AGFC began treating certain areas of the lake for Cuban bulrush, an invasive aquatic vegetation, according to Ryan Mozisek of the AGFC. Cuban bulrush is a fast-spreading invasive aquatic plant, and it was found in September as being widespread throughout the lake. Initial treatments have begun to treat the infestation in specific areas.
“Management efforts will need to be continued over the next several years to combat the vegetation in the lake so that anglers do not lose any more fishable water to these floating islands,” Mozisek said.
Cane Creek Lake is a 1,700-acre lake in Lincoln County that was built in 1986 and is owned and managed by the AGFC. It is stocked with bass, crappie, bream and catfish. The visitor center offers a pier, and there is good fishing often reported at the campsite. The lake has always had abundant floating and submerged aquatic vegetation. Increased focus recently on invasive aquatic species at the lake led to the discovery of the Cuban bulrush.
AGFC district staff also are working to manage other vegetation, such as American lotus, water lily, water shield and hydrilla, that have reached undesirable levels for anglers and biologists at Cane Creek Lake, Mozisek reported.

Lake Monticello
(updated 1-8-2026) AGFC staff remind anglers that all fish caught must be released immediately. The Hunger Run Access was opened late last year to boat traffic. 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 1-8-2026) 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.
Quite a bit of lake traffic was noted – bass boats as well as john boats with anglers – even with the temperature taking a tumble on Dec. 30.

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 1-8-2026) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said Millwood Lake elevation as of Wednesday was about inches above normal pool and stable, at 259.4 feet msl. Millwood Lake Dam was releasing about 650 CFS and the tailwater ws near 225 feet msl and stable. Surface temperature over the past week continued fluctuating, ranging 50 degrees early to 55 later in the day along Little River. Clarity along Little River is heavy stain and low visibility; typical Millwood lighter stain is found in the oxbows. River clarity has been ranging 8-10 inches of visibility, depending on location.  Visibility in the oxbows is ranging 20-30 inches in many locations.

Make sure to drain your bilge and livewells and flush your boat trailer from carrying and redistributing invasive species Cuban Bullrush and alligatorweed to other bodies of water. We hope herbicides can be applied in the spring to combat these invasive species on Millwood Lake.

Mike had these fishing specifics gleaned from his own experiences before the holidays and form his service’s guides over the past few weeks:
* Just before the Christmas holidays, the largemouth bass continued following large schools of threadfin shad, which were migrating to backs of creeks seeking warmer water temps, and were moving in and out of creek channel swings and adjacent flats with lily pads. We’re not seeing as much random schooling bass over the past week with the cold fronts dropping surface temps on Millwood Lake. With the reduced surface and lake pool temps again this week, not seeing as much surface-breaking as last week. 

Brazalo Lures’ Strutter 2.0 Bladed Jigs have been taking good black bass in creek channels for several weeks now, and continue to get reactions in the oxbows on points near stumps, lily pads and creek channel flats and bends, near vegetation and lily pad stands, using curly tail grub trailer. Best colors over the past couple weeks have been white, Spot Remover, Millwood Mayhem Bream and white/chartreuse, and using a split tail Bass Assassin 3-inch FFS Split Tail Shad trailer.

Chrome/blue Rat-L-Traps, smaller, ⅜-ounce chrome/blue Spinner Rat-L-Traps – that is, the Tail Spinners – will work when the bass follow shad into the lily pads and will finesse well through the lily pad stems when the action moves into vegetation and pads.

Bill Lewis ATV Crankbaits and Square Bills in Tennessee Shad, Pro Green Gizzard Shad and Ghost Minnow are still connecting with random bass cruising through flats with stumps and lily pads in same locations where the Rat-L-Trap Spin Traps are working.  The best bite will occur from mid-morning, around 9-11 a.m., due to the decrease in surface temps. Numbers of bass from 2-3 pounds each still concentrate near almost any major creek junction with Little River.  With current conditions along Little River fair, the deeper sections, points and washouts in Little River from 10-15 feet are seeing good success with a Tennessee Shad Fat Free Guppy or Fat Free Fry.  We have noted for several weeks a few black bass and white bass were following and herding shad in the creek channel near White Cliffs campground into Little River. 

* We were having great days just before the Christmas holidays with great catches of white bass while they continue chasing shad with the black bass in fairly large schools in Horseshoe and McGuire. The best action is midday. Great time to take a kid fishing. In recent weeks, we were seeing random catches of 15-20 at various times all day with Bomber Fat Free Guppy’s, Fat Free Fingerlings in Tennessee Shad and Citrus Shad patterns, half-ounce Rat-L-Traps, Chuck’N Spins, Rooster Tails, Little Georges, Rocket Shads, UnderSpins with a 3-inchwhite grub, and Beetle Spins.
* Our crappie guides updated the report this week, saying they have been doing better on jigs and tubes, alternating with minnows, but that changes daily. Cordell smoke grubs (on light wire jigheads), smoke-colored Southern Pro 1.5-inch Hot Tubes, 2-inch Crappie Stinger in red/yellow/pearl, and Pro Series Lit’l Hustler Tubes in Cajun Cricket, Tennessee Shad or Mexican Sunrise have been snatching 20-30 cappie slabs per day this week. The bulk of the crappie are holding in the 12-18 feet deep on brushpiles. 
* No catfish update this week; however, chicken livers and gizzards as well as King’s Punch Bait set on trotlines along Little River from 10- to 15-foot depths were working well recently.

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.

DeGray Lake

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

(updated 1-8-2026) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs noted on the weekly “Wild Side Show” on KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz on Tuesday that area lake levels were “goofy and ridiculously low,” and DeGray this was is sitting about 7 feet below full pool.
“Mr. Bass will be on DeGray this Sunday (Jan. 11). They’ll be going out of the spillway ramp. Water temperature is in the low 50s, probably 52-55 degrees. The big deal is so much moss on the lower level of the lake. It’s not just coontail, it’s a mixture of all kinds of good moss on the lower level and that’s going to end up deciding the tournament.
Will it help perhaps land a bass that qualifies for the AGFC’s Legacy Lunker program, meaning a 10-pounds-or-larger bass? 

“I certainly hope so,” he told the show’s hosts. There’s already been very good fish caught in DeGray due to the moss. You’re dealing with a 14-pounder there not very long ago. The moss crop on DeGray on the lower level will be the determining factor on the weigh-in on Sunday.”

Kastner says the Alabama rig is the top-lure going on right now.

“Everybody has downsized on the swimbait. Instead of throwing a big 4-inch swimbait on your Alabama rig, a lot of people are throwing 3-, 3.5-inch.
“Half-ounce jig (head), whether your throwing a a football jig of swim jig around that moss, that’s going to catch some good fish. A ton of people are throwing a Trap. We have thrown a Rat-L-Trap on grass for how many years now on all our lakes? And a Trap in half-ounce or ¾-ounce has caught a lot of fish.

“Also the jerkbait. Whether you’re throwing many different brands of jerkbaits, you’ve just gotta throw one that, this time of year, runs just a little bit deeper than normal. Whether a +1,  which runs 5-10 feet deep around those moss heads, that’s a key way to catch good fish.”

He said he expects a shootout for the Mr. Bass tournament Sunday.

(updated 1-8-2026) Randy Plyler with Plyler Outdoors Guide Service (870-210-0522) said as 2025 was winding down that with water temps in the low to mid-50s, bass can be caught on Alabama rigs or shaky head minnow by looking at your LiveScope and look for balls of baitfish. Also, bass can be caught on lipless crankbaits and crankbaits running to 12 feet deep along the moss and close to ledges. Some have been caught on jigs in 15 feet. 

Crappie can be caught on minnows and jigs in 15-25 feet on brush and standing timber. 

“You want to catch a fish of a lifetime folks, this is the starting time of the year to catch one. Just two weeks ago there was a whopping 14.2-pound largemouth bass caught out here using a shaky head minnow by LiveScoping.”

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 1-8-2026) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam remains in the low 50s due to the warm weather of the last week. Upcoming rainfall could stain the water somewhat in the tailrace but will clear quickly with the low-water conditions and limited flow from the dam. Lakes Hamilton and Catherine are in their 5-foot winter drawdown, with Lake Catherine lowered another 2 feet for infrastructure projects in Hot Springs scheduled Dec. 1-Jan. 31. This has created a terrible situation on Lake Catherine for fishermen looking to launch a boat while this low-water situation is in place. No water is anywhere near the two loading ramps adjacent to the public access fishing docks and the winter loading ramp is also out of action due to the extreme drawdown. 

Do not be fooled into thinking the water levels are high enough to launch a boat when there is flow from the dam. Generation times now are very short, and as soon as the current flow stops, the water level will fall quickly and will make loading a boat impossible. As soon as the additional 2 feet of water added back into Lake Catherine at the end of this month, water levels will be high enough for safe boat launching and loading. 

As reported the last several weeks, rainbow trout stocking will be drastically reduced all over the state due to the massive flooding and water quality issues that destroyed thousands of trout scheduled to be delivered to our lakes and streams. 

Despite the low water and trout emergency measures, fishermen have caught small numbers of trout in the tailrace casting Rooster Tails in white or brown in a 1/16- or ⅛-ounce weight. The trout are very scattered from the dam to the bridge, but fly-fishermen have taken numbers of trout on Trout Magnets in hot pink or white presented under a strike indicator. 

January, February, March and April are scheduled to have 1,000 rainbow trout stocked below both Carpenter Dam and Blakely Dam, and that will conclude the spring stocking for those areas. 

Anyone attempting to navigate the Carpenter Dam tailrace is urged to use extreme caution in the low-water conditions. 

Lake Dardanelle

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

(updated 12-18-2025) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood reports that largemouth bass are being caught between 5-10 feet of water on flats, with anglers throwing red Rat-L-Traps or black-and-blue Chatterbait. They’re also catching them at the mouths of creeks or bridge pilings on a half-ounce football jig.

Crappie are biting a eighth-ounce chartreuse jighead with a chartreuse Crappie Magnet in 10-15 feet of water, mainly on brush. 

(updated 1-8-2026) AGFC biologists from the west-central region recently did some electrofishing samples on two pools of the Arkansas River (Lake Dardanelle and Pool 9). They looked at fish populations in the backwaters as well as in the main river channel.

While backwater areas look consistent with past years for fish numbers and species, main river habitats showed fewer fish than expected. This is likely due to the prolonged flooding and high flow rates we experienced this spring and summer. It can temporarily push fish out of sampling zones. Biologists expect these populations to bounce back in the coming years as river flows return to normal.

As for some species snapshots from the sampling: 

Largemouth bass/spotted bass: Adult populations are still looking good. Although years with high flow rates generally lead to weak year classes, a fair number of young-of-the-year fish (especially largemouth) were observed.

Catfish: Blue catfish populations appeared to be down in riverine habitats. However, large populations of blues were observed on the lower end of Lake Dardanelle. Flathead catfish appeared to have a poor spawn, as young-of-the-year flatheads that are usually abundant were few and far between.

Crappie: Electrofishing is not the best gear to collect crappie, especially during late summer months. However, some nice crappie were observed around laydowns situated over deep water. On a side note, biologists have documented good year classes of crappie being produced in years with high flow rates in the past. They will be able to determine just how good reproduction was in 2025 during next year’s crappie netting sample.

Shad: Shad numbers were down, especially in riverine habitats. However, both shad species (gizzards and threadfin) were still present in fair numbers. Shad populations often bounce back quickly, especially in years with low to normal flow rates.

Lake Dardanelle is known for its strong largemouth bass population, along with good quantities of bream and is stocked with crappie. White bass are native to the river and are found in the lake. Catfish are abundant. Smaller topwater lures like a Zara Puppy Spook or a smaller buzzbait would be ideal for black bass. Try minnows for crappie with temps beginning to fall. Redworms and crickets will pull in bream. Surface water temperature as of midweek last week was about 75 degrees, which should have the black bass and panfish getting active.

Lake Hamilton

No reports.

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 12-18-2025) Sheila Ferrebee at Carter Cove Bait-N-More (479-272-4025) reports that the word going around Nimrod is the crappie are ready and are waiting for all the anglers.

Check out Carter Cove’s Facebook page for more updates; Carter Cove’s email address is cartercovebaitnmore@gmail.com. 

Lake Ouachita

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

(updated 1-8-2026) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) reports that black bass are still very good. Spoon action is still working well, and a jig fished in and around brush will produce results, too. Stripers are fair and are being caught on Alabama rigs and live bait near major creek basins in the western and central parts of the lake. Crappie are good. Try a small minnow-colored jig over brush in the 30- to 50-foot range, or go with a No. 6 crappie minnow.

No reports on walleye, stripers, bream or catfish.

Water temperature is ranging 50-54 degrees. Water clarity is light stain/clear. The lake level is steady at 570.08 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.

(updated 12-18-2025) John Koestler at Masterbaiters Bait and Tackle (501-209-6538), at 3200 N. Highway 7 outside Hot Springs Village, reports that “not having posted in probably a year, we’ve been busy. But, let me tell you about Lake Ouachita right now. Fishing is on fire — largemouth and spotted bass are hitting on swimbaits and jigs, and the dirty jig is doing really well. A lot of big fish are coming in right now, stripers for a lot of people spooning on stripers, as well as white bass, and some are catching largemouths and Kentucky bass (spots) in with them.
“Crappie have been really good, with some monster crappie. Some days, you’ll catch your limit. Some days, you only catch a few, but they’re in 40 feet, 35 feet, 20 feet down in the trees. Jigs and minnows have been working, but the colder this weather is, the fishing has been on fire.
“Don’t forget, we’re also a Minn Kota authorized service center. And, over this vacation, take the kids out fishing. Good luck to everybody and happy holidays.”

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.

NOTE: Blue Mountain Lake is undergoing a two-phase drawdown proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers to improve aquatic and waterfowl habitat by exposing mudflats for seeding and for critical maintenance on the lake’s intake structure. Phase one began Sept. 2, lowering the lake to its normal winter pool elevation of 384 feet. The second phase will begin May 1, 2026, with the lake further lowered to 374 feet through Nov. 1, 2026. During the drawdown, water activities will be limited, boat ramps may be affected, and areas around the lake will be seeded.

Japanese millet will be seeded on the mudflats during phase one to improve habitat for waterfowl and other aquatic species. Call 479-947-2372 for more information.

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.

No reports.

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