Arkansas Fishing Reports

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• Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.69 feet MSL.

• Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 3 to 6 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 78 to 88 degrees. Current in Little River is 1,168 cubic feet per second. Use caution navigating Little River during low light because debris and broken vegetation are floating downstream and some river markers have broken loose. Largemouth bass are biting well early and late in the day, but the bite gets tough from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Top-water toads, Bass Assassin Shads, 10- to 12-inch worms, swim baits and jerk baits are all working well on the bass during low-light hours. The mayfly hatch is in full swing. Many bass are chasing and feeding on bream that are under willow and cypress trees taking advantage of the mayflies. The best bite is in 2 to 12 feet of water. Chunky bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week, but are tough to find and entice after 11am until just before dark. Swimming jigs in white or blue glimmer w/ pearl white chunk or craw trailers around grass and pads are best producers over the past week for a big bite.  Not much change in overall patterns over the past couple weeks. White bass are biting well between White Cliffs and Cemetery Slough, in 12 to 16 feet of water along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges, Rooster Tails and Rocket Shads in white, red and chrome. The crappie bite improved again with the reduced current and discharge at the dam. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, smoke grubs on light wire jig heads and Mizmo tubes. Blue and channel catfish continue to hit well on trotlines, and remain best in current in Little River. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms. Many bream can be caught under a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spincast tackle on smoke-colored tubes, jigs and white/chartreuse popping bugs. 

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• Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.69 feet MSL.

• Millwood Lake Guide Service said the water clarity is 3 to 6 inches in the main lake away from current. The surface temperature is 78 to 88 degrees. Current in Little River is 1,168 cubic feet per second. Use caution navigating Little River during low light because debris and broken vegetation are floating downstream and some river markers have broken loose. Largemouth bass are biting well early and late in the day, but the bite gets tough from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Top-water toads, Bass Assassin Shads, 10- to 12-inch worms, swim baits and jerk baits are all working well on the bass during low-light hours. The mayfly hatch is in full swing. Many bass are chasing and feeding on bream that are under willow and cypress trees taking advantage of the mayflies. The best bite is in 2 to 12 feet of water. Chunky bass from 3-5 pounds remain consistent over the past week, but are tough to find and entice after 11am until just before dark. Swimming jigs in white or blue glimmer w/ pearl white chunk or craw trailers around grass and pads are best producers over the past week for a big bite.  Not much change in overall patterns over the past couple weeks. White bass are biting well between White Cliffs and Cemetery Slough, in 12 to 16 feet of water along Little River using Little Cleos, Little Georges, Rooster Tails and Rocket Shads in white, red and chrome. The crappie bite improved again with the reduced current and discharge at the dam. The most consistent bite remains on live shiners, smoke grubs on light wire jig heads and Mizmo tubes. Blue and channel catfish continue to hit well on trotlines, and remain best in current in Little River. Bream continue to bite well along the banks on crickets and redworms. Many bream can be caught under a single cypress or willow tree on ultra light or spincast tackle on smoke-colored tubes, jigs and white/chartreuse popping bugs. 

• Cossatot River: Davy Ashcraft at Cossatot River State Park (870-385-2201) said USGA states that the water level is 2.12 feet with the surface temperatures ranging from 68 to 72 degrees. The water is beginning to clear up, which will cause problems for some anglers using baits with spinners on them. Bream are biting great on worms and crickets in 3 feet of water. The smallmouth bass are biting very well on green pumpkinseed finesse worms and crawdad crankbaits around structure in pools at 4 to 5 feet of water. Small, dark-colored grubs are doing well, too. Black bass are fair with some being taken on dark-colored finesse worms and grubs fished very slowly around deep structure. Minnow-rigged setups are producing some limits of bass. Catfish are good with some being taken on chunks of hot dogs, live perch baited on trotlines are doing good as well.

• Lake Columbia: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good on shiners and worms.

• Lake Erling: Steve’s Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on worms.

• White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said the water level is continuing to be stable but the clarity is still poor. The bass are hitting all types of spinnerbaits, especially blue and red. The catfish are biting fairly well on trotlines. Crappie and bream are slow.

• Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.03 feet MSL.

• Darryl Morris at Family Fishing Trips said the surface temperature is 85 degrees.  The dog days of summer are upon us, but the fish are still biting. Anglers are consistently catching crappie, bream, bass and catfish on hardwood and bamboo brush piles with minnows. Fish 14 to 16 feet deep in 24 to 30 feet of water.

• Lakeside Grocery said the water is murky and at normal level with a surface temperature at 88 degrees. Bream are biting well in 3 to 8 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair around brush on minnows. Bass are biting well in the evenings on top-water lures, jigs and spinnerbaits. Catfish are fair on noodles and trotlines with bream. Stripers are good early in the morning on spoons and top-water lures.

• DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.43 feet MSL.

• DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water is high and all species are slow.

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• Moro Bay:  Moro Bay State Park said the river is only a fraction above summer normal, (65.8 ft above sea level) and it’s not moving up or down very quickly.  Fishing has slowed down a bit, but bream are still being caught in the bay from the beginning of the cypress trees to the mouth of the creek. Crickets and worms fished at a depth of about 5 foot are working best. Several good catfish have also been caught in the main river channel on bream and shad. A few bass have been caught in the bay while trolling with white spinnerbaits and red-shad plastic worms. Very few reports of crappie have come in. A crappie fisherman would most likely do best in the bay fishing fairly deep and moving around to find scattered fish.

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• Lake Monticello: Greg Gulledge with Basshunters Custom Crankbaits said the bass continue to bite on 10-inch worms in the 12- to 20-foot range. Bass are schooling in the afternoons. Standard schooling baits are working, such as Rat-L-Traps and Baby Kill Gill topwaters. A few fish are hitting Spro frogs when the conditions are right. Night fishing is still producing some nice bass in the 8- to 9-pound range.

• Lake Chicot: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and low. Bream are the best thing going on crickets.

• Grand Lake: Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said all species are slow.

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• Lake Charles: Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said the water level is normal. Bream are the best thing going now on jigs and crickets, with some catches on worms.  Crappie are biting but they are slow on minnows and crappie candy. Bass are biting on spinners and crankbaits and catfish are doing well on carp minnows.

• Crown Lake:Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 83 degrees. Bream are excellent on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on top-water lures early in the morning and in deep water on minnows. Catfishing is excellent on worms and stink bait.  

• Lake Frierson: Lake Frierson State Park said water conditions are normal. Bream fishing is excellent on worms. Catfishing is good on worms and chicken liver.

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• Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,128.48 feet MSL.

• JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting well on Carolina rigs fished on main lake points and humps. Best colors have been watermelon/red and pumpkin seed. Spinnerbaits fished along flooded trees have also been effective. Crappie have once again been biting well in the mid-lake area on Shineee Hineee jigs. Docks, timber, bluffs and floating debris in the backs of deep coves have worked best. The fish have been suspended just off the bottom. White bass and walleye have been picked up at night around Horseshoe Bend along the bluffs. Set out lights and drop minnows down 10 to 30 feet deep. Stripers have been biting around Point Four by trolling umbrella rigs 20 to 30 feet deep. Bluegill have been taking worms and crickets under docks and around rocks. Catfish have been biting well under the 12 bridge from shore using worms or liver.

• Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and 8 foot high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair in 15 to 20 feet of water on tube jigs. Bass are biting well on jigs and deep-diving crankbaits. White bass are biting well in the mid-lake area.

• Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature in the high 70s. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair in 12 to 15 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on plastic worms. Catfish are fair on minnows and chicken liver.

• Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and about 6 inches above normal level. Bream are biting well around tree tops on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is good in 4 to 10 feet of water on minnows, jigs and Road Runners. Bass are biting well around any structure on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and plugs. Catfish are fair in the main channel about 20 feet deep on liver, shad and cut bait.

• Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) had no report.

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• Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,128.48 feet MSL.

• JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass have been biting well on Carolina rigs fished on main lake points and humps. Best colors have been watermelon/red and pumpkin seed. Spinnerbaits fished along flooded trees have also been effective. Crappie have once again been biting well in the mid-lake area on Shineee Hineee jigs. Docks, timber, bluffs and floating debris in the backs of deep coves have worked best. The fish have been suspended just off the bottom. White bass and walleye have been picked up at night around Horseshoe Bend along the bluffs. Set out lights and drop minnows down 10 to 30 feet deep. Stripers have been biting around Point Four by trolling umbrella rigs 20 to 30 feet deep. Bluegill have been taking worms and crickets under docks and around rocks. Catfish have been biting well under the 12 bridge from shore using worms or liver.

• Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is stained and 8 foot high. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair in 15 to 20 feet of water on tube jigs. Bass are biting well on jigs and deep-diving crankbaits. White bass are biting well in the mid-lake area.

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• White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the water flows on the White have been consistently high. Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the White River. It has at times been spectacular, particularly at the Catch-and-release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), and brightly colored marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point up which makes them virtually weedless. Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms and eggs. Those fishing just outside the catch-and-release sections had good results by using black zebra midges and copper johns as droppers. The best fishing has occurred in the Red Bud area. The hot fly there has been brightly colored marabou jigs.

• Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is very high with eight generators still constantly running. Trout fishing has been very good. Jigs and countdown Rapalas seem to be working well. Power Bait and pink or red 3-inch Power Worms are also working. Fly-anglers seem to be having luck on Glo Eggs and San Juan worms.

• Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 692.02 feet MSL.

• Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 575.25 feet MSL.

• 101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature is in the low to mid 80s. Bream fishing is great using crickets, redworms and nightcrawlers. Striper fishing is good using live bait (small shiners or shad). The stripers are also hitting artificial baits fished around 20-30 feet deep. White bass fishing is fair. Try using small in-line spinners. Walleye fishing has been good. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is good. Crappie fishing is slow. They are out there but finding them can be a challenge.

• Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said all fishing has been slow.

• Norfork Tailwater:John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the Norfork has been spectacular on low water. Anglers reported great success with black zebra nymphs, olive scuds, and black Norfork bead heads all in size 18. Other good flies were olive woolly buggers, partridge and orange soft hackles, and worm brown San Juan worms. The top producer was the green butt soft hackle. There have been some sparse sulphur hatches in mid morning and this was the key to success. In the afternoon, on higher water, fishing slows a bit. Use conventional high-water techniques, and if you are not fishing a catch-and-release area consider using a dropper tied to the lead flies. Dry Run Creek has been a local hot spot. This is a great place for you to while away the summer with your children or grand children. It is also a great place to beat the heat.

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• White River: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the water flows on the White have been consistently high. Overall, the fishing has been excellent on the White River. It has at times been spectacular, particularly at the Catch-and-release section at Bull Shoals Dam and the adjacent state park. The hot flies have been San Juan worms (in tan, orange and red), and brightly colored marabou jigs. Jigs have the added advantage of riding hook point up which makes them virtually weedless. Another hot spot was Rim Shoals. Here again the most action was encountered using brightly colored San Juan worms and eggs. Those fishing just outside the catch-and-release sections had good results by using black zebra midges and copper johns as droppers. The best fishing has occurred in the Red Bud area. The hot fly there has been brightly colored marabou jigs.

• Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is very high with eight generators still constantly running. Trout fishing has been very good. Jigs and countdown Rapalas seem to be working well. Power Bait and pink or red 3-inch Power Worms are also working. Fly-anglers seem to be having luck on Glo Eggs and San Juan worms.

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• Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said water conditions are normal. A few bream have been caught on crickets and worms. Bass are biting well on spinning toads. Catfishing is good on trotlines with blood bait, cut bait and stinkbait.

• Dan at Gold Creek Landing said bream are biting well. Bass are biting fairly well on frogs and buzzbaits early. Crappie fishing is slow. Catfish are biting well on live and prepared baits.

• Little Red River:Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said water conditions are normal with two generators running around the clock. Trout fishing has been very good on Shad Raps and spinnerbaits with a glow worm and Power Egg.

• Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House has been releasing water continuously. The water is very off-color because of the silt from high lake levels. It’s tough enough fishing in high water but water that is high and clear as coffee is challenging.  The water coming through the dam is averaging 51 degrees with 8.0 mg/l of dissolved oxygen (good numbers).  Aquatic insect hatches continue with blue winged olive mayflies, sulphur mayflies, pale morning dun mayflies and midges being the primary players. Fishing dry flies in high water is problematic. The best sub-surface fly for our high water is the San Juan worm (#14-#18; worm brown, orange, red or peach).  When drift fishing from a boat, you will need 12-15 feet of leader and tippet with enough split shot to get the worm down to the streambed and a large strike indicator to float it all. When the river level drops to a wading level, try a sow bug (#14-#16; UV tan, UV gray or olive), zebra midge (#16-#22; red, black or copper), red butt soft hackle (#14-#18), copper john (#16; red, copper or green), pheasant tail (#16) or woolly bugger (#8-#12; olive, black or copper).

• Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 473.26 feet MSL.

• Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling steadily. The hybrid and white bass fishing continues to be good. With the great shad spawn we had, we should have an excellent fall bite as well. Right now, bait is the key, find the bait and the fish will be close at some point in the day or even night, try top-water baits, jigging spoons, in-line spinners and even hair jigs. Bream fishing is fair on nightcrawlers and crickets around docks, brush piles and flooded brush. Catfishing is great from 1 foot of water out to 25 feet using an assortment of baits and catching them on limb lines, rod-and-reels and jugs and trotlines. Walleye are there one day and gone the next. If you can stay with them, they can be caught with nightcrawlers and line weights on crankbaits fished on the edges of rocks on drops in 13-23 feet of water. Bass fishing is hit or miss. Try buzzbaits, Right Bite frogs, or Rite Bite Cinko’s Carolina-rigged or Texas-rigged worms, or you can flip and pitch baits to the brush.

• Shiloh Marina said the water is high. Fishing has been slow.

• Harris Brake Lake:Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 85 degrees. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on minnows and artificial baits. Catfishing is picking up on worms and liver.

• Lake Beaverfork: The City of Conway Parks and Recreation Department said the water is murky and at normal level. Fishing has been pretty slow lately, but some crappie have been caught on minnows.

• Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie fishing is good in 8 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on minnows, jigs and spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on crayfish, goldfish and worms.

• Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature in the mid 80s. Bream fishing is good around the docks on crickets and worms. Crappie are fair in 10 feet of water on minnows. Bass are fair fishing off the banks on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on worms.

• Brewer Lake: Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are normal with a surface temperature at 85 degrees. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets around the banks. Crappie fishing is very good in 20 foot brush piles on minnows. Bass are fair on buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on worms and stink bait.

• Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well in 5 to 8 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair in 12 to 15 feet of water on plastics. Bass are fair on plastic worms. Catfishing is good in shallow water.

• Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass fishing is good on white spinnerbaits and 4-inch pumpkinseed lizards. Catfishing is good on Magic Bait.

• Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said the water is high and rough. All species are currently slow.

• Lake Maumelle:Jolly Roger’s Marina said summer fishing is in full swing, so it’s time to move deeper for all species. Largemouth bass are biting well, but weights have dropped some from spring. Fish 15 to 20 feet deep with jig-and-pig combos, drop shot rigs and spoons. Kentucky bass are mixed with the largemouth. White bass are schooling at the east end of the lake on CC spoons and Spooks. Bream are excellent in 15 feet of water on crickets and worms. Some catfish are being caught by anglers targeting the bream as well. Crappie are fair.

• Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said the water is clear and high. Bream are fair in 12 to 14 feet of water on a split shot and cricket.

• Fourche La Fave: Bass are fair early and late on jigs and shad-colored crankbaits. Catfishing is good on jugs with live green sunfish and cut bait.

• Palarm Creek: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bass are fair on brown and orange jigs. Catfishing is excellent on limb lines and trotlines with cut bait and stink bait.

• Lake Valencia: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken hearts.

• Pickthorne Lake: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well at the shallow end of the lake on crickets and worms. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and chicken hearts.

• Little and Big Maumelle Rivers: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said bream are biting well at the upper end of the creek on crickets and wax worms. Bass are fair early and late on spinnerbaits, flukes and top-water stick baits. Channel catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers, cut bait and chicken hearts.

• Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said stripers are being caught on chartreuse twister tails. Catfishing is excellent snagging and bait fishing on live green sunfish and shad fillets.

• Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is very high and dangerous.

• Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and high. Bream are fair in 4 to 6 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on black buzzbaits.

• Peckerwood Lake: Herman’s Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and still a bit high and starting to fall. Bream are fair on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are being caught on minnows. Some large bass have been caught on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on any bait.

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