07-05-2007, 06:10 PM
Arkansas River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Tuesday, the Arkansas River stages are:
Trimble Lock and Dam: Headwater - 393.72 feet, Tailwater - 392.63 feet, Flow - 186,820 cubic feet per second<br />
Dardanelle Lock and Dam: Headwater - 337.78 feet, Tailwater - 306.14 feet<br />
Ormond Lock and Dam: Headwater - 286.41 feet, Tailwater - 285.63 feet, Flow - 163,170 cubic feet per second<br />
Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Headwater - 270.58 feet, Tailwater - 269.76 feet<br />
Murray Lock and Dam: Headwater - 247.37 feet, Tailwater - 239.61 feet, Flow - 170,211 cubic feet per second<br />
Terry Lock and Dam: Headwater - 230.76 feet, Tailwater - 227.23 feet, Flow - 169,046 cubic feet per second<br />
Sanders Lock and Dam: Headwater - 194.75 feet, Tailwater - 194.22 feet<br />
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater - 161.14 feet, Tailwater - 145.24 feet, Flow - 156,979 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:<br />
8.63 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
22.23 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
9.89 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
7.81 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
3.79 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)<br />
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish were stocked into most program ponds last week, and they are biting very well. Nightcrawlers and chicken livers have been the best baits so far, but stinkbait and minnows should also produce fish. Bream fishing has only been fair on crickets and worms. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Conway : Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream fishing is excellent on redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Catfishing is fair on trotlines with minnows or bream in the evenings.<br />
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is pretty good and the level is low, with a little generation late in the day. Fishing is good on wax worms with marshmallows or Power Bait and corn. Artificial baits that are working well are Buoyant Spoons and Rooster Tails. Fly-fishing is still good.<br />
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is releasing water every day. Most releases are mid-afternoon with less than one full generator. Water releases should increase with the recent rain. Always be on the alert for rising water. The rains muddied the river in areas below the tributaries, such as Canoe Creek, Sulphur Creek and Big Creek. Aquatic insect hatches continue, but are few and far between. We should see many blue-winged olives in the near future and right on through to October. The midges, sulphurs and pale morning duns are coming off every day in the afternoons. The dry flies that are attracting the most trout include Parachute Adams (sizes 16-18), PMDs (sizes 16-18), midges (sizes 18-22) and Sulphurs (sizes 16-18). Sub-surface flies that seem to call the trout's name are sow bugs (sizes 14-18), pheasant tails (sizes 16-18), zebra midges sizes (16-22 in red, olive or black), prince (sizes 16-18), San Juan worms (size 18 red) and woolly buggers (size 8-14 olive or brown). Other flies that are also working sub-surface include soft hackle emergers such as red butts (size 16).<br />
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.56 feet MSL.<br />
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the surface temperature is in the low 80s most of the day. White bass and hybrids are hit-and-miss but can be caught schooling if you can find the baitfish in the open water areas. Night fishing is good around bridges and marinas. Bass fishing is good right now with most black bass in the shallows chasing bream. Some bass are out on the drops and can be caught on Carolina-rigged lizards and Texas-rigged worms. Salt Creek has been a good area to start your search. Crappie are biting jigs and minnows around brush in 15-25 feet of water. Bream are bedded and biting anywhere you can find some shallow cover. Walleye are biting on the flats in about 43 feet of water. The best bite has been on bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses dragged slowly across the bottom. Catfishing is good and the flatheads are spawning in shallower water.<br />
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Catfish are biting well on worms and chicken liver. Hybrids are biting Rat-L-Traps.<br />
Lake Overcup : Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is dingy and high. Bream fishing is fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfish are biting very well on trotlines with minnows.<br />
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting minnows and jigs. Salt and pepper or red/white/chartreuse jigs have been the best. Bass fishing is fair, with some being caught on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is fair on live bream and cut bait.<br />
Brewer Lake : Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water level in normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows, and jigs. Red/chartreuse or blue/white jigs have been the best. Bass fishing is fair on flukes and plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on rice slicks and bream.<br />
Little MaumelleRiver: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and low. All species are poor.<br />
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on the upper end.<br />
Lake Maumelle : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well in 10 to 12 feet of water on crickets.<br />
Lake Valencia : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and hot dogs.<br />
Sunset Lake : Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are being caught in 12 feet of water on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair, with some being caught on 2-inch Kalin grubs in Lemon Meringue. Bass are biting well on chrome top-water lures. Catfish are biting in 10 feet of water on Magic Bait.<br />
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is murky. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on small buzzbaits and top-water baits over deep holes. Catfish are biting well in shallow water on live bait.<br />
Pickthorne Lake : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets. Catfish are biting well on cut bait and nightcrawlers.<br />
Burns Park : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfish are biting well.<br />
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop(501-758-4958) said stripers and whites are both biting well on split tail jigs and large minnows.<br />
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is too high and muddy. A few carp have been caught and one large catfish was weighed in.<br />
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting in 2 to 4 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are slow. Black bass are biting in 2 feet of water, in the grass, on white spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting on the bottom with nightcrawlers. The best catfishing is at night.<br />
Peckerwood Lake : Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and falling. Bream and crappie fishing are slow. Catfishing is good.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said generation has been relatively steady in comparison to the water levels. Two or three units have been very common. Black, white, or olive marabou jigs are catching some very nice rainbows and trophy brown trout. Many trout have been caught on redworms or yellow or chartreuse Power Bait. Fly-anglers on high water are using white or pink 1/64th-oz. jigs or red San Juan worms.<br />
Anglers White River Resort (870-585-2226) said the water is murky because of the rain. Fishing has been excellent on spinners with glow worms and Power Bait. An orange and white combination has been best.<br />
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 657.42 feet MSL.<br />
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said water is being run through the Bull Shoals Dam but not affecting the lake level very much. Bass fishing has been excellent on the classic jig-n-frog or jig-n-whatever trailer pattern in 10 to 15 feet of water, and on spinnerbaits or plastic worms along the brush or around the blue-sign brush piles. Many white bass are being caught at night under lights on minnows in 10 to 30 feet of water. Catfish are being caught on trotlines and jugs at night. They are being caught during the day on nightcrawlers. Walleye are being caught in brush piles, along the ends of timber bluffs, on chuck rock banks and on long flat gravel bars with a drop off. Walleye are mainly being caught on a split shot and nightcrawler, slowly trolling a crawler harness and bottom bouncer rig or long-line trolling deep-diving crankbaits.<br />
Bull Shoals Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said water releases have been pretty heavy from Bull Shoals Dam, producing some very good high-water fly fishing. Sulfurs are hatching on the lower river, so during low-water conditions, be sure to have plenty of mayfly patterns to imitate the nymphs, the emergers, and the dry fly stages of the hatch. Patterns like the Mighty May, the Batwing Emerger, and the Spundun are working well. During higher flows, this is also a great time to fish large streamers for aggressive brown trout. Fishing from a boat using sinking lines, cast to fishy-looking structure as you drift downstream and use an erratic retrieve to swim your fly across the current.<br />
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 555.88 feet MSL.<br />
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water clarity is excellent and the water is at normal level. Bream fishing is excellent on redworms and small jigs. Crappie fishing is slow , wish some being caught on minnows in 25 to 30 feet of water over brush. Bass are biting early on top-water lures and plastic worms during the day. Smallmouth are active on tubes and soft-plastic crawfish. Stripers are biting early on top-water lures, grubs, spoons and Berkley Pogies. White bass fishing is excellent. They are biting on Sassy Shad, Castmaster spoons and Roadrunners. Walleye are biting on nightcrawlers harnesses, Reef Runners and Rapala Original Floating Minnows.<br />
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear. The water has been down in the morning and up in the afternoons. Decent-sized rainbows and browns have been caught. Fly-anglers are having luck with black woolly buggers. Bait anglers are having the most luck with corn, worms and some shad.<br />
McLellan's Fly Shop said water releases have been very light, with one to two units usually coming on line sometime during mid- to late afternoon, and the sulfurs and craneflies are still hatching, producing some excellent dry-fly fishing from mid-morning to early afternoon. During the early morning hours, nymph fishing with classic mayfly nymph patterns like the hare's ear and pheasant tail nymph has been productive. Once adult mayflies (and craneflies) are evident on the surface, definitely switch to adult patterns for some spectacular dry fly fishing.<br />
Table Rock Lake
hillip Stone of Stone's Guide Service said the bass have started moving into their summer patterns with the increasing water temps. Many are being caught on main lake points in 15-25ft. of water where shad are present. Anglers are still catching a few early in the mornings on topwaters on the shallow flats. But when the sun comes up, the bite is over and they start moving to deeper water. With the lake level up about 2 feet, some of the fish are using the bushes to ambush prey. Crappie have also moved out to deep water for their summer patterns. Try fishing the edges of creek channels with timber along the channel in 20-25 feet of water. Use a live minnow or a swimming minnow for best results.<br />
Taneycomo: McLellan's Fly Shop said two to four generators have been running at Table Rock Dam as they try to pull the lake level down. Nymph fishing out of a boat with larger scud and sow bug patterns has produced some spectacular fishing over the last week.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,120.85 feet MSL.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the main lake is up and clear. Bream are biting well in 4 to 8 feet of water on redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow, with some being caught in 10 to 20 feet of water on minnows or trolled Hot-n-Tots. Bass are picking up on spinnerbaits and 8- to 12-inch plastic worms in dark colors. They are also biting well on Carolina rigs and shaky heads during the day. Whites are biting well on Rooster Tails. Flatheads are biting well on goldfish and bream. Blues are biting well on liver or prepared baits.<br />
Beaver Tailwater:McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been holding off until afternoons, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities during the morning hours. During low water, midge patterns have been fooling many trout.<br />
Lake Fayetteville:LakeFayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting trolled minnows and jigs. Black bass are biting early and late. Catfishing is hit-or-miss on chicken liver.<br />
Lake Sequoyah:LakeSequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. All species are poor.<br />
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is muddy. Bream and bass fishing are good.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake:Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and up a little. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.<br />
Lake Frierson:Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and high because of the rains. One large flathead was caught last weekend on trotlines with rice slicks.<br />
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bass fishing is good. Catfish are biting well on worms and lures.<br />
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Trout are biting well on corn and salmon eggs. Bream are biting well on worms. Bass are biting well on lures. Walleye fishing is good on lures.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and a little low. Bream, bass and catfish are all biting well.<br />
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on trolled minnows and jigs.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.55 feet MSL.<br />
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level is 3 inches above normal and rising. Main lake clarity and visibility low. Crappie are beginning to suspend in Little River over and in planted brush piles with more regularity, but biting less with all the current and high, muddy water. Bass have pulled out near deeper water, but are still roaming shallow early and late. Good-size bass, continue to blow up chasing baitfish and shad around lily pads and grass beds. The best bass bite over the last few days has been on on Bass Assassin Shads in grass and lily pads. Crankbaits in chartreuse and white are taking some good numbers of bass on points. Black/blue or firetiger Buzzbaits, top-water frogs, Bass Assassin Shads and Johnson silver and gold spoons are catching good bass up to 5 pounds. 10-inch worms in blue fleck, black or red shad in the muddy water along the river, or a Bass Assassin Shad in Gold Pepper Shad are working well on Carolina rigs. The best jig color is still Texas Craw with chartreuse in it and a sour grape plastic chunk. Rat-L-Traps in bream with orange colors, white shad and diamond dust, continue to work in the clearer areas of the backwaters and oxbows away from Little River's current. War Eagle spinnerbaits in copper peach, chartreuse/white, or firetiger, are picking up roaming fish in grass. White bass remained elusive this week with all the current and muddy water in Little River. Channel cats are excellent on trotlines set 12 to 18 feet deep and baited with cut baits, Charlie and chicken liver in MudLake, Horseshoe and around Jack's Isle.<br />
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is in good shape and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish are biting well on stinkbait, goldfish and minnows.<br />
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is in good shape and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish are biting well on stinkbait, goldfish and minnows.<br />
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 547.18 feet MSL.<br />
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and up. Bream are biting well in shallow water on crickets. Stripers and whites are biting fair off main points on top-water lures and spoons. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair on soft plastics and top-water lures. Catfishing is fair, with some being caught on stinkbait, bream and shad.<br />
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 404.71 feet MSL.<br />
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water clarity is good, and the temperature is in the mid 80s. Bream are on beds in 8 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are scattered during the day, with a few biting on minnows and jigs off the points. Crappie fishing is best at night. Bass are biting fairly well from daylight to around one hour after daylight in 5 to 15 feet of water on spinnerbaits, top-water baits and buzzbaits. Around 8 a.m. they are moving out to 20 to 30 feet deep. They are biting well on crankbaits, Carolina rigs, and heavier jigs late in the day. Catfishing has picked up, with some being caught in 20 feet of water or deeper on trotlines and noodles baited with bream. White bass and hybrids are schooling from Edgewood to the south and east toward IronMountain.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy. Bream are on beds, biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well in shallow water on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms.<br />
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said Fishing is really tough right now because the water is running so fast. However, some have been caught using jigs and topwaters early in the morning.<br />
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 386.74 feet MSL.<br />
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is dingy and high. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing has slowed just a little, with a few biting on worms.<br />
Ozark Pool:Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is murky and high. Some bream have been caught on worms and crickets. Bass are biting on white spinnerbaits and chartreuse crankbaits. A few catfish have been caught on shad or catalpa worms.<br />
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 575.90 feet MSL.<br />
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing has picked up a little this week. Best times to fish are the first four or five hours in the early morning and the last one or two hours before dark until around midnight. Bass are biting pretty well on 10-inch bloodline-colored worms fished slowly. Stripers are excellent up around the dam using shad and J-plugs. Bream are doing well in about 25 feet of water on crickets.<br />
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and near full pool. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Bass are active at 6 to 8 feet of water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. Walleye are biting on humps in around 20 feet of water.<br />
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports the summer trout bite continues to be good. Water temperature is now steady at 58 to 60 degrees with Entergy maintaining a regular generation schedule. With a steady stream of threadfin shad migrating to the dam, the rainbow trout have a healthy feeding environment in which to live and grow. Boat fishermen are catching limits of trout by casting white and brown Rooster Tails around the bridge area targeting fish that are moving upstream towards cooler water. Trolling small shad and crawfish crankbaits in the channels will produce larger trout - some over 4 pounds- as these fish feed on a larger forage base. Bank fishermen are doing well using redworms and nightcrawlers floated under a bobber. Wax worms fished on the bottom with a marshmallow floater will catch trout despite heavy moss growth. Fly fishermen casting egg patterns and olive-colored wooly buggers are having success in the early morning hours over shallow water. San Juan worms will produce fish as the sun rises and forces them into deeper water. Striper activity is becoming more visible now that the summer weather has brought huge schools of threadfin shad into the tailrace water area. Top-water action has been fair below the bridge with trout colored Super Spooks and C-10 Redfins.<br />
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing has been slow because of boat traffic.<br />
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and a little high. Crappie fishing is fair, with some being caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on plugs and worms. Catfish are biting well on live bream.<br />
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is murky. Bream are biting well. A few crappie have been caught. Bass are biting well in deep water. Some large catfish have been caught on worms.<br />
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 345.68 feet MSL.<br />
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is muddy in the river and high. A few bream have been caught. Crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs. Pink/white, chartreuse/dark green or chartreuse/red jigs are working well. Bass are biting well on top-water lures and plastic worms. Catfish are biting very well.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
No report this week.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and high. Bream are biting well on worms, crickets and jigs. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on lizards and top-water lures. Catfish are biting well on worms.<br />
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is high and there are small craft advisories out.<br />
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water has been up and muddy.<br />
Maddox Bay: MaddoxBay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and at a low level. Bream are biting well in 1 to 2 feet of water and are biting on worms, crickets, and popping bugs. Crappie fishing is fair in 2 to 8 feet of water. Some crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on worms, stinkbait, minnows and crawfish. Trotlines and rod and reel are both working well.<br />
Bear Creek Lake:Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is at normal level and dingy. Bream fishing is poor; a few have been caught on crickets and worms. Bass fishing is slow with some being caught on plastic worms. A few catfish are being caught on jugs baited with live shad or bream.<br />
Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the water is 12 to 14 inches below normal and clear. Bream are biting well in 4 feet of water on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair, trolling 12 to 14 feet with minnows. Bass fishing is fair off the points, on plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on rod and reel, on the bottom, with redworms. Redeared sunfish are being caught in 6 to 8 feet of water on redworms.<br />
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and in excellent condition. Bream are biting well in shallow water on crickets and popping bugs for the fly fishermen. Crappie are being caught trolling in 7 feet of water with minnows. Bass fishing is fair, with a few being caught in shallow water on top-water lures. Catfishing is real good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.
Trimble Lock and Dam: Headwater - 393.72 feet, Tailwater - 392.63 feet, Flow - 186,820 cubic feet per second<br />
Dardanelle Lock and Dam: Headwater - 337.78 feet, Tailwater - 306.14 feet<br />
Ormond Lock and Dam: Headwater - 286.41 feet, Tailwater - 285.63 feet, Flow - 163,170 cubic feet per second<br />
Toad Suck Lock and Dam: Headwater - 270.58 feet, Tailwater - 269.76 feet<br />
Murray Lock and Dam: Headwater - 247.37 feet, Tailwater - 239.61 feet, Flow - 170,211 cubic feet per second<br />
Terry Lock and Dam: Headwater - 230.76 feet, Tailwater - 227.23 feet, Flow - 169,046 cubic feet per second<br />
Sanders Lock and Dam: Headwater - 194.75 feet, Tailwater - 194.22 feet<br />
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater - 161.14 feet, Tailwater - 145.24 feet, Flow - 156,979 cubic feet per second
White River Levels: According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:<br />
8.63 feet at Georgetown (flood stage - 21 feet)<br />
22.23 feet at Augusta (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
9.89 feet at Newport (flood stage - 26 feet)<br />
7.81 feet at Batesville (flood stage - 15 feet)<br />
3.79 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage - 19 feet)<br />
Statewide Family and Community Fishing Report: Catfish were stocked into most program ponds last week, and they are biting very well. Nightcrawlers and chicken livers have been the best baits so far, but stinkbait and minnows should also produce fish. Bream fishing has only been fair on crickets and worms. For more information on catfish stockings, call toll-free 1-866-540-FISH (3474).
CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
Lake Conway : Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream fishing is excellent on redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow. Catfishing is fair on trotlines with minnows or bream in the evenings.<br />
Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water clarity is pretty good and the level is low, with a little generation late in the day. Fishing is good on wax worms with marshmallows or Power Bait and corn. Artificial baits that are working well are Buoyant Spoons and Rooster Tails. Fly-fishing is still good.<br />
Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House is releasing water every day. Most releases are mid-afternoon with less than one full generator. Water releases should increase with the recent rain. Always be on the alert for rising water. The rains muddied the river in areas below the tributaries, such as Canoe Creek, Sulphur Creek and Big Creek. Aquatic insect hatches continue, but are few and far between. We should see many blue-winged olives in the near future and right on through to October. The midges, sulphurs and pale morning duns are coming off every day in the afternoons. The dry flies that are attracting the most trout include Parachute Adams (sizes 16-18), PMDs (sizes 16-18), midges (sizes 18-22) and Sulphurs (sizes 16-18). Sub-surface flies that seem to call the trout's name are sow bugs (sizes 14-18), pheasant tails (sizes 16-18), zebra midges sizes (16-22 in red, olive or black), prince (sizes 16-18), San Juan worms (size 18 red) and woolly buggers (size 8-14 olive or brown). Other flies that are also working sub-surface include soft hackle emergers such as red butts (size 16).<br />
Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 461.56 feet MSL.<br />
Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the surface temperature is in the low 80s most of the day. White bass and hybrids are hit-and-miss but can be caught schooling if you can find the baitfish in the open water areas. Night fishing is good around bridges and marinas. Bass fishing is good right now with most black bass in the shallows chasing bream. Some bass are out on the drops and can be caught on Carolina-rigged lizards and Texas-rigged worms. Salt Creek has been a good area to start your search. Crappie are biting jigs and minnows around brush in 15-25 feet of water. Bream are bedded and biting anywhere you can find some shallow cover. Walleye are biting on the flats in about 43 feet of water. The best bite has been on bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses dragged slowly across the bottom. Catfishing is good and the flatheads are spawning in shallower water.<br />
Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Catfish are biting well on worms and chicken liver. Hybrids are biting Rat-L-Traps.<br />
Lake Overcup : Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is dingy and high. Bream fishing is fair on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfish are biting very well on trotlines with minnows.<br />
Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets and redworms. Crappie are biting minnows and jigs. Salt and pepper or red/white/chartreuse jigs have been the best. Bass fishing is fair, with some being caught on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is fair on live bream and cut bait.<br />
Brewer Lake : Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water level in normal. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well on small minnows, and jigs. Red/chartreuse or blue/white jigs have been the best. Bass fishing is fair on flukes and plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on rice slicks and bream.<br />
Little MaumelleRiver: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is muddy and low. All species are poor.<br />
Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on the upper end.<br />
Lake Maumelle : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well in 10 to 12 feet of water on crickets.<br />
Lake Valencia : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfish are biting well on nightcrawlers and hot dogs.<br />
Sunset Lake : Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is stained and at normal level. Bream are being caught in 12 feet of water on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair, with some being caught on 2-inch Kalin grubs in Lemon Meringue. Bass are biting well on chrome top-water lures. Catfish are biting in 10 feet of water on Magic Bait.<br />
Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is murky. Bream are biting well on crickets. Bass are biting well on small buzzbaits and top-water baits over deep holes. Catfish are biting well in shallow water on live bait.<br />
Pickthorne Lake : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said bream are biting well on crickets. Catfish are biting well on cut bait and nightcrawlers.<br />
Burns Park : Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said catfish are biting well.<br />
Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop(501-758-4958) said stripers and whites are both biting well on split tail jigs and large minnows.<br />
Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is too high and muddy. A few carp have been caught and one large catfish was weighed in.<br />
Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is clear and low. Bream are biting in 2 to 4 feet of water on crickets. Crappie are slow. Black bass are biting in 2 feet of water, in the grass, on white spinnerbaits. Catfish are biting on the bottom with nightcrawlers. The best catfishing is at night.<br />
Peckerwood Lake : Herman's Landing (870-241-3731) said the water is clear and falling. Bream and crappie fishing are slow. Catfishing is good.
NORTH ARKANSAS
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said generation has been relatively steady in comparison to the water levels. Two or three units have been very common. Black, white, or olive marabou jigs are catching some very nice rainbows and trophy brown trout. Many trout have been caught on redworms or yellow or chartreuse Power Bait. Fly-anglers on high water are using white or pink 1/64th-oz. jigs or red San Juan worms.<br />
Anglers White River Resort (870-585-2226) said the water is murky because of the rain. Fishing has been excellent on spinners with glow worms and Power Bait. An orange and white combination has been best.<br />
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 657.42 feet MSL.<br />
Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said water is being run through the Bull Shoals Dam but not affecting the lake level very much. Bass fishing has been excellent on the classic jig-n-frog or jig-n-whatever trailer pattern in 10 to 15 feet of water, and on spinnerbaits or plastic worms along the brush or around the blue-sign brush piles. Many white bass are being caught at night under lights on minnows in 10 to 30 feet of water. Catfish are being caught on trotlines and jugs at night. They are being caught during the day on nightcrawlers. Walleye are being caught in brush piles, along the ends of timber bluffs, on chuck rock banks and on long flat gravel bars with a drop off. Walleye are mainly being caught on a split shot and nightcrawler, slowly trolling a crawler harness and bottom bouncer rig or long-line trolling deep-diving crankbaits.<br />
Bull Shoals Tailwater: McLellan's Fly Shop said water releases have been pretty heavy from Bull Shoals Dam, producing some very good high-water fly fishing. Sulfurs are hatching on the lower river, so during low-water conditions, be sure to have plenty of mayfly patterns to imitate the nymphs, the emergers, and the dry fly stages of the hatch. Patterns like the Mighty May, the Batwing Emerger, and the Spundun are working well. During higher flows, this is also a great time to fish large streamers for aggressive brown trout. Fishing from a boat using sinking lines, cast to fishy-looking structure as you drift downstream and use an erratic retrieve to swim your fly across the current.<br />
Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 555.88 feet MSL.<br />
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water clarity is excellent and the water is at normal level. Bream fishing is excellent on redworms and small jigs. Crappie fishing is slow , wish some being caught on minnows in 25 to 30 feet of water over brush. Bass are biting early on top-water lures and plastic worms during the day. Smallmouth are active on tubes and soft-plastic crawfish. Stripers are biting early on top-water lures, grubs, spoons and Berkley Pogies. White bass fishing is excellent. They are biting on Sassy Shad, Castmaster spoons and Roadrunners. Walleye are biting on nightcrawlers harnesses, Reef Runners and Rapala Original Floating Minnows.<br />
Norfork Tailwater: Gene's Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear. The water has been down in the morning and up in the afternoons. Decent-sized rainbows and browns have been caught. Fly-anglers are having luck with black woolly buggers. Bait anglers are having the most luck with corn, worms and some shad.<br />
McLellan's Fly Shop said water releases have been very light, with one to two units usually coming on line sometime during mid- to late afternoon, and the sulfurs and craneflies are still hatching, producing some excellent dry-fly fishing from mid-morning to early afternoon. During the early morning hours, nymph fishing with classic mayfly nymph patterns like the hare's ear and pheasant tail nymph has been productive. Once adult mayflies (and craneflies) are evident on the surface, definitely switch to adult patterns for some spectacular dry fly fishing.<br />
Table Rock Lake
hillip Stone of Stone's Guide Service said the bass have started moving into their summer patterns with the increasing water temps. Many are being caught on main lake points in 15-25ft. of water where shad are present. Anglers are still catching a few early in the mornings on topwaters on the shallow flats. But when the sun comes up, the bite is over and they start moving to deeper water. With the lake level up about 2 feet, some of the fish are using the bushes to ambush prey. Crappie have also moved out to deep water for their summer patterns. Try fishing the edges of creek channels with timber along the channel in 20-25 feet of water. Use a live minnow or a swimming minnow for best results.<br />Taneycomo: McLellan's Fly Shop said two to four generators have been running at Table Rock Dam as they try to pull the lake level down. Nymph fishing out of a boat with larger scud and sow bug patterns has produced some spectacular fishing over the last week.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS<br />
Beaver Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 1,120.85 feet MSL.<br />
Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the main lake is up and clear. Bream are biting well in 4 to 8 feet of water on redworms and crickets. Crappie fishing is slow, with some being caught in 10 to 20 feet of water on minnows or trolled Hot-n-Tots. Bass are picking up on spinnerbaits and 8- to 12-inch plastic worms in dark colors. They are also biting well on Carolina rigs and shaky heads during the day. Whites are biting well on Rooster Tails. Flatheads are biting well on goldfish and bream. Blues are biting well on liver or prepared baits.<br />
Beaver Tailwater:McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been holding off until afternoons, providing plenty of wade-fishing opportunities during the morning hours. During low water, midge patterns have been fooling many trout.<br />
Lake Fayetteville:LakeFayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting trolled minnows and jigs. Black bass are biting early and late. Catfishing is hit-or-miss on chicken liver.<br />
Lake Sequoyah:LakeSequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said the water is clear and at normal level. All species are poor.<br />
Sugarloaf Lake: Midland Minimart (479-639-9467) said the water is muddy. Bream and bass fishing are good.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Crown Lake:Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the water is clear and up a little. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie and bass fishing is fair. Catfishing is good on chicken liver.<br />
Lake Frierson:Lake Frierson State Park said the water is muddy and high because of the rains. One large flathead was caught last weekend on trotlines with rice slicks.<br />
Eleven-Point River: Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground (870-892-9732) said the water is clear and at normal level. Bass fishing is good. Catfish are biting well on worms and lures.<br />
Spring River: Many Islands Camp (870-856-3451) said the water is dingy and at normal level. Trout are biting well on corn and salmon eggs. Bream are biting well on worms. Bass are biting well on lures. Walleye fishing is good on lures.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
Lake Chicot: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and a little low. Bream, bass and catfish are all biting well.<br />
Grand Lake: Koenig Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are biting well on trolled minnows and jigs.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
Millwood Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 259.55 feet MSL.<br />
Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level is 3 inches above normal and rising. Main lake clarity and visibility low. Crappie are beginning to suspend in Little River over and in planted brush piles with more regularity, but biting less with all the current and high, muddy water. Bass have pulled out near deeper water, but are still roaming shallow early and late. Good-size bass, continue to blow up chasing baitfish and shad around lily pads and grass beds. The best bass bite over the last few days has been on on Bass Assassin Shads in grass and lily pads. Crankbaits in chartreuse and white are taking some good numbers of bass on points. Black/blue or firetiger Buzzbaits, top-water frogs, Bass Assassin Shads and Johnson silver and gold spoons are catching good bass up to 5 pounds. 10-inch worms in blue fleck, black or red shad in the muddy water along the river, or a Bass Assassin Shad in Gold Pepper Shad are working well on Carolina rigs. The best jig color is still Texas Craw with chartreuse in it and a sour grape plastic chunk. Rat-L-Traps in bream with orange colors, white shad and diamond dust, continue to work in the clearer areas of the backwaters and oxbows away from Little River's current. War Eagle spinnerbaits in copper peach, chartreuse/white, or firetiger, are picking up roaming fish in grass. White bass remained elusive this week with all the current and muddy water in Little River. Channel cats are excellent on trotlines set 12 to 18 feet deep and baited with cut baits, Charlie and chicken liver in MudLake, Horseshoe and around Jack's Isle.<br />
Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is in good shape and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish are biting well on stinkbait, goldfish and minnows.<br />
Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said the water is in good shape and at normal level. Bream are biting well on worms and crickets. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair. Catfish are biting well on stinkbait, goldfish and minnows.<br />
Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 547.18 feet MSL.<br />
Lakeside Grocery, Motel and Bait (870-398-5304) said the water is clear and up. Bream are biting well in shallow water on crickets. Stripers and whites are biting fair off main points on top-water lures and spoons. Crappie fishing is poor. Bass fishing is fair on soft plastics and top-water lures. Catfishing is fair, with some being caught on stinkbait, bream and shad.<br />
DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 404.71 feet MSL.<br />
DeGray One Stop (501-865-3511) said the water clarity is good, and the temperature is in the mid 80s. Bream are on beds in 8 to 15 feet of water. Crappie are scattered during the day, with a few biting on minnows and jigs off the points. Crappie fishing is best at night. Bass are biting fairly well from daylight to around one hour after daylight in 5 to 15 feet of water on spinnerbaits, top-water baits and buzzbaits. Around 8 a.m. they are moving out to 20 to 30 feet deep. They are biting well on crankbaits, Carolina rigs, and heavier jigs late in the day. Catfishing has picked up, with some being caught in 20 feet of water or deeper on trotlines and noodles baited with bream. White bass and hybrids are schooling from Edgewood to the south and east toward IronMountain.
WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Lake Dardanelle: Murphy's Sporting Goods (479-229-3200) said the water is muddy. Bream are on beds, biting well on worms and crickets. Bass are biting well in shallow water on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms.<br />
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said Fishing is really tough right now because the water is running so fast. However, some have been caught using jigs and topwaters early in the morning.<br />
Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 386.74 feet MSL.<br />
CNC's End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is dingy and high. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing has slowed just a little, with a few biting on worms.<br />
Ozark Pool:Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is murky and high. Some bream have been caught on worms and crickets. Bass are biting on white spinnerbaits and chartreuse crankbaits. A few catfish have been caught on shad or catalpa worms.<br />
Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 575.90 feet MSL.<br />
Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing has picked up a little this week. Best times to fish are the first four or five hours in the early morning and the last one or two hours before dark until around midnight. Bass are biting pretty well on 10-inch bloodline-colored worms fished slowly. Stripers are excellent up around the dam using shad and J-plugs. Bream are doing well in about 25 feet of water on crickets.<br />
Lake Catherine: Diamondhead Marina (501-262-2272) said the water is clear and near full pool. Bream are biting well on crickets. Crappie are biting well on crickets and nightcrawlers. Bass are active at 6 to 8 feet of water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers. Walleye are biting on humps in around 20 feet of water.<br />
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch'em All Guide Service, reports the summer trout bite continues to be good. Water temperature is now steady at 58 to 60 degrees with Entergy maintaining a regular generation schedule. With a steady stream of threadfin shad migrating to the dam, the rainbow trout have a healthy feeding environment in which to live and grow. Boat fishermen are catching limits of trout by casting white and brown Rooster Tails around the bridge area targeting fish that are moving upstream towards cooler water. Trolling small shad and crawfish crankbaits in the channels will produce larger trout - some over 4 pounds- as these fish feed on a larger forage base. Bank fishermen are doing well using redworms and nightcrawlers floated under a bobber. Wax worms fished on the bottom with a marshmallow floater will catch trout despite heavy moss growth. Fly fishermen casting egg patterns and olive-colored wooly buggers are having success in the early morning hours over shallow water. San Juan worms will produce fish as the sun rises and forces them into deeper water. Striper activity is becoming more visible now that the summer weather has brought huge schools of threadfin shad into the tailrace water area. Top-water action has been fair below the bridge with trout colored Super Spooks and C-10 Redfins.<br />
Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman's Guide Service said fishing has been slow because of boat traffic.<br />
Lake Hinkle: Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is clear and a little high. Crappie fishing is fair, with some being caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on plugs and worms. Catfish are biting well on live bream.<br />
Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is murky. Bream are biting well. A few crappie have been caught. Bass are biting well in deep water. Some large catfish have been caught on worms.<br />
Lake Nimrod: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 345.68 feet MSL.<br />
Local angler Billy Blankenship said the water is muddy in the river and high. A few bream have been caught. Crappie are biting well on minnows or jigs. Pink/white, chartreuse/dark green or chartreuse/red jigs are working well. Bass are biting well on top-water lures and plastic worms. Catfish are biting very well.
SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS<br />
No report this week.
EAST ARKANSAS
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) said the water is murky and high. Bream are biting well on worms, crickets and jigs. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on lizards and top-water lures. Catfish are biting well on worms.<br />
River City Sporting Goods (870-534-8303) said the water is high and there are small craft advisories out.<br />
White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the water has been up and muddy.<br />
Maddox Bay: MaddoxBay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is clear and at a low level. Bream are biting well in 1 to 2 feet of water and are biting on worms, crickets, and popping bugs. Crappie fishing is fair in 2 to 8 feet of water. Some crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on worms, stinkbait, minnows and crawfish. Trotlines and rod and reel are both working well.<br />
Bear Creek Lake:Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is at normal level and dingy. Bream fishing is poor; a few have been caught on crickets and worms. Bass fishing is slow with some being caught on plastic worms. A few catfish are being caught on jugs baited with live shad or bream.<br />
Six Rivers Sport Center (870-295-3236) said the water is 12 to 14 inches below normal and clear. Bream are biting well in 4 feet of water on crickets. Crappie fishing is fair, trolling 12 to 14 feet with minnows. Bass fishing is fair off the points, on plastic worms. Catfish are biting well on rod and reel, on the bottom, with redworms. Redeared sunfish are being caught in 6 to 8 feet of water on redworms.<br />
Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and in excellent condition. Bream are biting well in shallow water on crickets and popping bugs for the fly fishermen. Crappie are being caught trolling in 7 feet of water with minnows. Bass fishing is fair, with a few being caught in shallow water on top-water lures. Catfishing is real good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.