May 4, 2023
Jim Harris Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
Reports are updated weekly, although some reports may be published for two weeks if updates are not received promptly or if reporters say conditions haven’t changed. Contact the reporter for current news for the lake or stream you plan to fish.
TOP: Mike and Sam Sumrow of Joliet, Illinois, landed this nice 15.5-inch crappie on Tuesday as part of their haul fishing Norfork Lake in north Arkansas. Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort and a regular contributor to the Fishing Report, related that Sam started fishing Norfork Lake as a youngster with her parents. Now she visits twice a year with her husband, Mike. On Wednesday, Sam was able to land her first striped bass as an adult. “They are both really excited and are having a blast,” Lou said.
Quick links to regions:
Central Arkansas
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
Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
For the most up-to-date lake level, visit the U.S. Geological Survey's Lake Conway water level site.
(updated 5-4-2023) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bream are good. They appear to be moving back in and some are up on the beds while some are scattered a little bit. Use redworms or crickets. Crappie reports from the daytime anglers aren’t coming in now, but crappie are being caught late at night on yo-yos. Catfish are “on,” they say. In particular, people have been catching flatheads every day, and the flatheads are doing well on little bream.
Black bass are starting to hit the shoreline too. “A Junebug worm is what everybody has been smashing them on,” they report.
Little Red River
The Army Corps of Engineers reported the outflow at Greers Ferry Dam to be 2,768 cfs (turbine) as of noon Thursday, with round-the-clock release of about that same flow for days. The tailwater was down at 272.33 feet as of 2 p.m. Thursday. Greers Ferry Lake is 4 feet above normal conservation pool. Check with the Army Corps of Engineers website for real-time release data or by calling (501) 362-5150). Also check the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecast generation schedule.
(updated 5-4-2023) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-250-0730) said the spillway gates are closed, but we still have one generator operating 24 hours each day. This current release schedule could change depending on rainfall. If you plan to fish the Trout Magnet in high water, consider using extra weight and focus on eddies and close to banks using pink and white-colored bodies on chartreuse or gold jigheads. For fly-fishing, consider weighted San Juan Worms, weighted egg patterns and Streamers. Always check generation schedule and be aware of unexpected water release. Check before heading to the Little Red River for Greers Ferry Dam water release by downloading the USACE Little Rock app, Corps of Engineers website (swl-wc.usace.army.mil) for real-time water release and the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecasted generation schedule.
(updated 5-4-2023) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips/Little Red River Fly Guides (501-507-3688) said Greers Ferry Lake is 4.1 feet above power pool. The Army Corps of Engineers has been running one unit of generation round-the-clock to get the lake to pool. “I'd expect the same generation schedule to continue unless we get rain. Then I see them cutting back on the generation schedule to let the creeks get back to normal flows.
“The fishing has been good with the one unit of generation. The caddis are coming off; as soon as the temperature starts to rise you'll see the hatch. The bite starts to pick up as well. I've been fishing along the moss beds and the shoals out of the boat. My nymph rig set up at the moment is. A 9-foot leader, and I have the depth set at about 6-7 feet deep. I'm running a double nymph rig with double caddis patterns.
“Another go-to pattern that's been good is a pink San Juan Worm, also set about 6-7 feet deep underneath an indicator.
“The Streamer bite has been great, especially on a cloudy day. My favorite patterns are Double Deceiver in yellow and brown, and white.”
(updated 5-4-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the Corps of Engineers is running one unit now on the river for generation. Trout fishing is doing really well. Try a No. 5 or 7 Rapala Countdown or a Trout Magnet in a pink color, both are doing well. Also use an olive and white maribou jig, as it’s doing well, too.
Greers Ferry Lake
As of Thursday at noon, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 467.03 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 462.54 feet msl, top flood elevation 487.0 msl).
(updated 5-4-2023) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said Thursday morning that the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is at 467.07 feet msl, which is 5.03 feet above normal pool of 462.04 feet msl and falling. Water is being moved out of the gates and with generation; the Army Corps of Engineers has really been bringing it down. Crappie are everywhere: up shallow, out roaming and deep on structure. Scoping and old-time 2-D os working as well, whichever trips your trigger – cranks, jigs, and minnows from 6 inches out to 40 feet. Black bass are pretty much same as crappie. Spinnerbaits, topwater, crankbaits, Alabama rigs, drop-shots, Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, spoons – a lot is going on every day, some bass still spawning, a big shad spawn is going on in different places, and with weather forecasts it looks like the same all this month as well.
Bream are being caught real shallow out to 20 feet on crawlers, crickets and small moving baits. Walleye are getting grouped up around the lake, drag crawlers, use a jig head with plastic, drop-shots, crankbaits real shallow and setting up on structure 8-40 feet. Catfish ,blues eating good on points and lots of Flat heads eating it up, all over lake and rivers, floating lines, jugs, any method you use is working right now, and lots of different baits. Hybrid and White basses are around shad and some still in or moving in and out of spawning areas all over lake and rivers, creeks, etc., again super shallow out to 46 feet. Float and fly, hair jigs, inline spinners, spoons and live bait working well. Enjoy and be safe.
(updated 5-4-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the lake is at 4 feet above normal level and falling. The upper end of the lake is still a little stained but is clearing up. The lower end is clear. There are a lot of different ways you can catch bass now, they say. In shallow water, anglers are either throwing a white Chatterbait or trying a topwater frog like a Zoom Horny Toad and doing well with both. Also, they are throwing a jig around flooded buckbrush. Out in the mid-depth range, in the 8-10 feet range, a Carolina rig is doing well. Also, a single swimbait has been working well. In deeper water, such as in about 15-20 feet of water, a Carolina rig will work here and dragging a football jig has been successful.
Harris Brake Lake
(updated 5-4-2023) Ken Winstead at Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are biting on redworms and crickets. Black bass are doing well. They like dark colored baits along with minnows and nightcrawlers. Look for a bait in watermelon red, red, blue or grape colors. Catfish are doing well on liver of call kinds and dough baits, plus minnows and nightcrawlers.
Crappie are biting and typical for all this changing water with the weather, so move around from shallow to deep water. Expect it to be hit or miss. The best colors are silver/chartreuse, Monkey Milk, black/chartreuse, Cajun Cricket, Kiwi, Mo-Glo, silver/Blue Ice, orange/white and Diamond Mist. There is a Crappie Magnet bite, and make sure to try to with minnows and nightcrawlers, too.
(updated 4-27-2023) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says crappie are still slow, not what they expect there for this time of year. Anglers are buying minnows and using jigs to try to catch them still. Most anglers are catching bream in the shallow areas on redworms and crickets. A few caught some black bass on the bank. One angler was using crankbaits and some dark worms. Also, some people have caught a few catfish on trotlines and noodles baited with either bass minnows or baby bream. They weren’t big, but were in the 5- to 7-pound range.
The water is at a normal level but has a lot of yellow pollen on top. Overall clarity below that pollen is muddy. The water temperature is ranging 62-65 degrees.
Lake Overcup
(updated 4-20-2023) Lacey Williams at Lakeview Landing on Arkansas Highway 95 (501-252-1437) said the water level is getting lower. The bass are up near areas of the shoreline biting on anything that moves slowly. Use something weedless. “I got a few reports that while they were bass fishing with swimbaits and spinnerbaits they got some decent crappie!” Minnows are still holding the top of the bait list for crappie, she said.
Bream are coming in strong. Crickets are the way to go. And lastly, use some nightcrawlers and fish after dark if you’re wanting catfish.
“Y’all remember to stay safe on the water,” Lacey said. Check out the Lakeview Landing Hwy 95 Facebook page for water temperature and other updates.
Brewer Lake
(update 4-27-2023) AGFC biologists have recently sampled Brewer Lake and seem some very positive results concerning black bass. The high water at Brewer Lake is in the bushes now, and so are the bass. This made for a difficult sample, but the biologists say a determined angler should be able to find some good-sized fish deep in the buckbrush. A 6-pound, 5-ounce bass was sampled near the south boat ramp and in slightly deeper water than most others.
On a second night of sampling Brewer, more quality largemouth bass and crappie were collected off the south bank along the main lake along the water willow line. Most of these fish appeared to be post-spawn.
(update 4-20-2023) David Hall at Dad’s Bait Shop (501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, had no new report.
Lake Maumelle
(updated 5-4-2023) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) had no new reports.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
As of Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam was 12,945 cfs. The stage at Morrilton was at 9.3 feet and dropping (flood stage is 30 feet). Flow further upriver at Dardanelle Lock and Dam the flow was 7,829 cfs.
Little Maumelle River
(updated 4-27-2023) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said things are muddy on the Little Maumelle and not much was going on this week to report.
When the weather was nice a couple of weeks back and water temperature was consistently in the 65-degree range and headed to 69, Ray reported that fishing was good. Bass and crappie both were definitely shallow at that point. Bass appear to be right there where they would start to spawn. Anglers were catching the crappie in about 2 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Pink minnows appeared to be working better than the regular ones. Bass, he said, had "just been outstanding here lately" being up shallow as well. Anglers were catching them on spinnerbaits, lizards, worms and similar baits. Catfish were being caught on chicken liver and minnows, with both channels and blue cats in the catches. There were no reports on bream.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Toad Suck Lock and Dam was 0 cfs.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Area Pools)
On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam was 18,335 cfs. The elevation is 249.19 feet msl. The stage in the Little Rock pool was falling slightly at 7.23 feet (flood stage is 25 feet). Flow at the Terry Lock and Dam was 18,805 cfs.
(updated 5-4-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports that for black bass in the backwaters, mostly anglers have been using a Texas-rigged black/blue creature bait or a Texas-rigged Strike King Structure Bug in a summer craw color. Note that the water has cleaned up some from its off-clarity lately, and some anglers have been flipping a green pumpkin and candy colored jig, a finesse-style jig, or one in a black/blue color. And a green pumpkin or black/blue Chatterbait has been doing real well, along with a hollow body frog in a white or black color. These are the ways to go in the backwaters.
In the main part of the river, flip the jetties with jigs, or use a black or white buzzbait along the rocks. Anglers are also catching fish by throwing square-bill cranks and spinnerbaits.
Crappie on the river have been biting in the entrances to the backwaters. Anglers have been catching them in 6-10 feet of water. Use jigs in black/chartreuse, red/chartreuse and blue/chartreuse, with 1/16-ounce being ideal.
(updated 4-27-2023) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) has not heard any reports of fishing on the river lately.
Clear Lake (off Arkansas River-Little Rock Pool)
(updated 4-27-2023) McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) says crappie and bream are doing well. Anglers are focused on buying crappie minnows as well as some chartreuse/purple jigs with the hungry crappie. Crickets are selling for the bream anglers.
White River
(updated 5-4-2023) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said Bull Shoals Lake is nearing desired power pool while moderate generation continues, varying between 5,000 cfs to 16,000 cfs (two to five units), but expect that to decrease in a few weeks as the lake reaches its power pool level. The lake level now is 665.47 feet msl. The morning temperatures have been cool – low 40s, blue skies – ushering in warmer afternoon temps. Next week promises warmer mornings and refreshing spring showers.
“Our anglers have been nabbing lots of 12- to 13-inch rainbows – best if you decide to keep any and absolutely perfect for lots of action and making forever memories. Shrimp and PowerBait are a must in your bait bucket, but many guides say you can't beat the real thing: the guides like to pack in live minnows if they're going after browns.
“Deeper water in the afternoon means more drift-fishing with limited wading opportunities but the trout love lots of water and bubbles. Look for structures on the riverbed that oxygenate the area and you'll find a hangout for trout.
“The brown bite has been fantastic this week. They've shown up for sculpins, minnows, shad and even the pink mousetail artificial worms – healthy, fighting browns that make your heart race while you're waiting to see just how big that fish is on the end of your line.
“Natural (State) fishing is pure fun and excitement. Come visit Arkansas!”
(updated 5-4-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said that late last week and through Tuesday the water levels stabilized between 5-7 feet with clean water. “Late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning we saw a bump up to 8 feet, but the water started dropping before 8 a.m. Fishing has been phenomenal using different methods of fishing. Fishing was great using an inline spinner with different bright-color combinations of Power Eggs and shrimp. The most popular Power Eggs were yellow or a combination of one white Power Eggs and one orange Power Egg. Rapala Countdown CD7 in brown trout colors resulted in some very nice brown trout just under the 24-inch limit. Fishing with sculpins resulted in some 17-inch-plus rainbows and almost legal brown trout. The nickel/gold or copper-colored quarter-ounce Colorado spoons worked well for smaller rainbows up to some nice larger 3-pound-plus trout. Fishing the gravel bars has worked well. For the deeper holes try throwing a deeper diving Rapala Shad Rap in purple or shad color.
(updated 4-27-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service at Cotter said that during the past week they a bit over a quarter of an inch of rainfall, warmer temperatures and very heavy winds (to include lake wind advisories). The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 1 foot to rest at 5.2 feet above power pool of 660.3 feet msl. This is 29.5 feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 0.3 foot to rest at 1.8 feet below power pool and 16.7 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.6 foot to rest at 6.2 feet above power pool or 2.4 feet below the top of flood pool. The white had had no wadable water and moderate-then-heavy flows. Norfork Lake fell 0.2 foot to rest at 0.5 foot below power pool of 555 feet msl and 25.5 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork Tailwater had some wadable water. All of the lakes in the White River System except Table Rock and Norfork are above power pool.
The caddis hatch is ongoing. This is our best hatch of the year. We have seen some small hatches in late afternoon. Before the hatch, fish a caddis pupa like the Sunday special in size 16. When you see takes on the top, but see no insects, switch to a caddis emerger like Berry’s Green Butt in size 15. When you observe trout taking insects from the top of the water, switch to elk hair caddis size 16. It will be difficult to fish this hatch with the high water levels we now have.
On the White, the hot spot has been The Narrows. We have had lower flows that have fished well. The hot flies were Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, copper Johns, pink and cerise San Juan worms, gold ribbed hare’s ears and sowbugs. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. John’s favorite has been a cerise San Juan Worm with an orange egg dropper. Use long leaders and plenty of additional weight.
John also said, “The White and North Fork rivers are tailwaters. That is, they are below large dams designed for flood control and power generation. They are subject to a wide variation in water releases that causes huge changes in water levels. Sometimes they are low and wadable, and at other times they are deep and roaring.
“When the water is high, we are required to fish large, heavily weighted flies to get down to the bottom of the water column, where the trout feed most of the time. The most popular technique, fishing double-fly rigs under an indicator, is hard to cast using the conventional cast. You have two flies, a big split shot and a good-sized strike indicator in the air, and even the tiniest error will cause serious tangles. With multiple flies, lead and the strike indicator entwined with long leaders, it takes a long time to untangle this mess. If you are tangled, you are not fishing.
“The answer is the Belgian cast. Unlike a conventional cast that has a distinct forward and back cast with distinct stops, this is a continuous cast. It never stops moving until the final delivery. You begin with a side cast back and convert to an overhead cast when the line is straight behind you. There is no stop in the back. When the line is straightened out before you, stop the cast and let it settle on the water.
“This cast produces a big loop that will not tangle, especially with heavy double-fly rigs. It is also effective with heavy streamers. I have found it to be easier to cast in heavy winds. It is easy to teach, and I always show any client that is struggling with their cast how to do it.
“It does require a bit of space. I generally have my clients fishing from the right side of the boat. Therefore the client nearest me is casting over my head. The angler in the front of the boat should start the cast by doing a sidearm cast over their left shoulder and bring it overhead in one continuous motion. If they are left-handed, it is simple: just sidearm to the left and then bring it forward overhead in one continuous motion.
“Another benefit of this cast is that it is easier on your shoulder. I have had clients that struggled with the conventional cast because it caused them some pain. They were able to do the Belgian cast with no accompanying pain.
“If you are interested in some instruction on the Belgian cast, my wife, Lori, and I are planning to teach an intermediate casting seminar on June 3 at ASU Mountain Home and this is one of the casts that we are going to cover. There is a modest fee.”
Bull Shoals Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported the lake’s elevation at 665.07 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 659.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 695.00 feet msl). By midday Thursday the flow was 12,726 cfs; tailwater elevation was 456.26 feet. The reported lake elevation at Table Rock Lake was 914.31 feet msl (normal conservation pool: 915.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 931.0 feet msl).
(updated 4-27-2023) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said Bull Shoals Lake level as of Thursday was 666 feet msl, now only 7 foot high. Water temperature is at or over 60 degrees. Cooler temps and falling water have slowed things down. There is now accessibility to ramps and parking again. The bass are grouped up and they are spawning or prespawn. “We did lose some beds because of the dropping water that put them in a funk, but I’m expecting another big wave if conditions stabilize. There’s a shad spawn with bass feeding; you can find them around docks, spread out on flats and in the bushes now. A lot of fish now are suspending, waiting to move up.
“I’m looking for prespawners by checking pockets with wind and shad. Most fish still seem to be looking up. Most the dirty water cleared out but some of the bigger creeks or up the lake have stain, while there is high visibility around the dam area. Fish it like two separate lakes.
Dirty creeks, cloudy, warm rain water you’re best powerfishing with square bill, perch or shad. Try on the last couple swing banks or in or around the spawning pockets. Cover water. Fish warm runoff if available. There are some fish in the bushes but that bite is hit or miss. Use a Senko, a popper or a Ned rig.
Sunny days with flat water and stain conditions, try points by slow-dragging a Jewel half-ounce Special Ops football jig in green pumpkin. Sunny with clear water, look at the old shoreline points, keep the boat in 25-30 feet, try a green pumpkin 3/16-ounce shaky head or a Ned fished slow, then go a little slower. Focus on the points outside spawning areas. The shad are moving up high, so check the backs of creeks and look for feeding activity. Bigger spreads are shallower than 40 feet, be sure to check flats. Graph time pays off. Bomb-cast around the Ol’ McMinnow 2.8 swimbait in white or shad colors, as well as a fluke and a Lucky Craft Gunfish topwater. This pattern has been the deal for me.
The bass are definitely grouping up. The walleyes caught bass fishing looked spawned out. White bass look to be absorbing their eggs. Each day is different so fish the conditions.
Del regularly posts new YouTube videos. Visit his YouTube site (Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock) for more information and tips on fishing Bull Shoals Lake.
Norfork Lake
As of midday Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reported the lake’s elevation at 554.55 feet msl (normal conservation pool: Sept.-April, 553.75 feet msl; April-Sept. 555.18 feet msl; top flood elevation 580.0 feet msl). Flow below the dam Thursday midday was 206 cfs, about 2,700 cfs drop from Wednesday midday.
(updated 5-4-2023) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level was 554.47 feet msl and had dropped a half-inch in the last 24 hours when Scuba Steve went in at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, with one generator running for about eight hours. The White River at Newport was 13.31 feet and still dropping with much less water being discharged into the river. The level has been basically stable for a week and the water is clearing, especially near the shore on rocky banks. You can see your lure down 6-7 feet and the water is stained green but a good color for fishing. The surface water temperature was 67 degrees and had risen about 3 degrees in the bright sunshine and light winds. “We are to get some rain soon but it will not hurt anything as we are getting very dry with below average rainfall for April.”
The bass fishing improved earlier this week and needed to. Some crappie are spawning, some have spawned and some are staging. Some bass are on beds but not a lot. The stable water level will help things. It is not too late for a good spawn for most species. The topwater bite is improving with the increased water temperature and warmer nighttime lows.
“It is a typical May fishing report but the water level is much more normal and is just a bit high. It looks to be a good year so far. Catfish are partway back in the creeks and hitting live shiners and bluegill. Bass are around shallow points on both sides near brush and swimbaits, grubs, Gitzits and creature baits are all catching fish. Bluegill are under docks and hitting crickets.”
Visit blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's blog for a daily report.
(updated 5-4-2023) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort says the bite for most species has slowed a little over the last couple of days with the cool front that rolled through the area. “Or at least it has slowed for me!” he said. “A 3-degree drop in surface lake temp has not helped. The heat wave is arriving soon, so the lake temp will begin to climb again and the bite will improve.
“This has not stopped anyone from fishing and catching fish. The striped/hybrid bass have really scattered out in the areas where I have been fishing. The very early-morning bite is the best and I have been catching a few each morning by casting a 3.5 swimbait up close to shoreline points, both back in coves or on the main lake. Crappie are both on brush and scattered out in coves roaming between brush. Trolling Flicker Minnows is working the best, but a slip float with live minnows is also producing some fish. Bass are on shoreline points in 3-10 feet of water. Casting swimbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are all catching fish. I have found also some nice bass feeding in the middle of a cove in 30 feet of water. I was trolling for crappie with four rods out and all four got hammered by bass at the same time. I have also found bass in 25 feet deep brush piles. Jigging a Tater Shad was driving them crazy, especially with a fast reel up.
“Another angler landed some nice striped bass and largemouth on topwater baits, as well as by trolling Flicker Minnows. Meanwhile, Mike and Sam have been crappie fishing, trolling Flicker Minnows and by using live bait on a slip float. Wednesday, trolling worked the best for them. They landed a huge 15.5-inch crappie. All their fish were released to be caught another day.”
The surface water temp has dropped to around 60 degrees Wednesday morning. The lake level is stable at 554.51 feet msl, which is slightly under the current seasonal pool of 554.47 feet msl.
Lou posts almost daily on his Facebook page with photos and where the fish are biting and what’s biting. Check it out.
Norfork Tailwater
(updated 5-4-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Norfork Lake fell 0.2 foot to rest at 0.5 foot below power pool of 555 feet msl and 25.5 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork Tailwater had some wadable water. All of the lakes in the White River System except Table Rock and Norfork are above power pool.
There has been a little wadable water on the Norfork. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small bead-head nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan Worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). John’s favorite rig has been a cerise San Juan Worms and an orange egg. The fishing is better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday.
Dry Run Creek has fished a bit better. Weekends can get a quite crowded. The hot flies have been sowbugs, various colored San Juan Worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and white mop flies. Small orange or peach eggs have been very effective. Carry a large net, as most fish are lost at the net.
Remember that the White and North Fork rivers and Dry Run Creek are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water. Many manufacturers are now making rubber soled wading boots that are easier to clean and are not as likely to harbor didymo.
Buffalo National River/Crooked Creek
(updated 5-4-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are fishing better. With warmer temperatures, the smallmouths should be active soon. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.
Beaver Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,1287.28 feet msl, or 5.9 feet above normal pool (normal conservation pool: 1,120.43 feet msl; top flood elevation is 1,130.0 feet msl).
(updated 5-4-2023) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake is dropping slowly. Water temperature is climbing slowly. It should really jump up in the temps after this upcoming weekend with forecast near 90 degrees. Striper fishing is going good with the spawn is cranking up. This is the time of the year the stripers spawn. You will find big schools up shallow in less that 20 feet of water. Look from Prairie Creek up to Camp War Eagle.
“Crappie will either start to spawn or, as I have seen, unfortunately pull back and start to adsorb eggs. We have caught fish in 20 feet of water with pale white eggs and no blood vessels present. That is a sign of them not liking the conditions. This up-and-down with water and temperatures is not good.
“Next week will show itself on the spawn. We have a full moon now. Walleye are moving towards mid-lake. White bass are done with spawn. Bluegill will crank up this month. Great kids fish! Lots of action and some good eats as well. Bass fishing will be a shallow proposition. Shad are starting to crank up on their upcoming spawn, which will fire up the shallower water bite.
“Be safe and enjoy the warm weather upcoming!”
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.
(updated 4-27-2023) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said fishing has been good this week. The cold spell slowed it down a little, but as of Friday (April 28) it was bouncing right back. Monday and Tuesday, the crappie fishing was good for reporting anglers. It wasn’t a “throw it anywhere and catch them” kind of day either day, you had to work for them, but the results wer good. A Keitech 2.5-inch or 3-inch has been working really well, and (of course) minnows. (Southtown reports they sell more minnows than anything.)
Black bass have been about the same as crappie, they say. They were on the beds, pulled off the beds when the cold front passed through, and are going back. The water as of Friday was starting to warm back up. Anglers are throwing a floating worm or wacky rig, as well as plastics, around the beds and other shallow areas.
Anglers are still catching a few walleye. As far as the fish up the river, most have pulled out after the spawn and are beginning to move back into the main lake.
Water temperature earlier this week ranged 57-58 degrees and probably did not move beyond that during the cool weather midweek. Visibility is about 6 inches in the river, and out in the big water is ranges 18 inches to 2 feet. At or near the dam, anglers typically always find clear water.
Beaver Tailwater
(updated 4-27-2023) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said that with the fronts moving in and out, the bite has been up and down. The Army Corps of Engineers has been generating pretty consistently, starting around 9 a.m. If you cover some deeper water, there are still a few walleye and white bass to be had. Most are being caught trolling crankbaits and tossing jerkbaits.
“The trout bite has been pretty good, with most being caught with Pautzke Fire Eggs and Fire Bait. As a matter of fact, we just completed another fishing video, which outlines how we apply out techniques on the Beaver Tailwater. You can find it by visiting my fishing Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service) or search “Busch Mountain Fishing- Pautzke” on YouTube. Most are being caught with light terminal tackle, fished on bottom.
“This weeks hotspot has been between Bertrand and the Spider Creek area. I hope y'all are able to get out and catch some fish!
Lake Fayetteville
(updated 4-27-2023) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reported that anglers were out Friday, April 28, for both bass and crappie. The crappie hunters were doing fairly well on usual crappie baits. Nothing heard back from the bass anglers, however. No reports on bream or catfish of late. The water conditions are good as of the end of this week.
Lake Charles
(updated 5-4-2023) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said people are catching some nice flathead catfish, but they weren’t sharing what bait they were using. These days, though, we would suggest little bream, crawfish or minnows, and maybe some skipjack. Anglers are catching crappie and panfish on jigs, crickets and minnows, as well as with worms. Both the bream bite and crappie bite are good. Crappie seem to be around the shoreline and in 6-8 feet of water. A good color for your jigs would be black/chartreuse.
No reports on black bass or white bass.
Water surface temperature on Sunday morning was 61.7 degrees. The water is its usual murky and the level remains high.
Lake Poinsett
(updated 4-27-2023) Seth Boone, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, said Lake Poinsett is kicking on all cylinders. The bream are biting on worms and Bream Killers.
“We haven’t heard a lot of reports on catfish,” Seth said, “but I bet they would bite all right in the evenings on live or stink bait.”
Crappie, while catch-and-release only, have been tearing up pink and chartreuse jigs. Bass are doing well on crankbaits and shallow-water baits.
Spring River
(updated 4-27-2023) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels at the Spring have been running at 480 cfs and water clarity is mostly clear. “It does have a perfect green stain to the water. The rain has missed us the last few rounds. Water levels are at its lowest this spring and the bite has been on!” Mark said.
The rainbows have been feeding hot and heavy with great caddis, stones and mayfly hatches most mornings. “Damsels were emerging about a week ago, making olive Woollies super hot, but that may be over. This week during the hatches a Crackleback works great! Or about most nymphs will work. The only tough days are when the sun is shining bright, then it's simply get to the bottom. Don't be afraid to add some split shot or a slow fished sink tip. The main outfit on sunny days have been indicator/split shot/ Y2K or blob/nymph or San juan Worm. Just gotta get down ... This technique has been getting some bigger browns to the boat, too.
“Smallmouth are spawning during this time and should be left alone! Give them a few weeks to make more smallies and they will be on the bite in a few weeks. We are looking forward to doing more smallie trips this year on the lower above Hardy. Few trout in this area have the smallies biting great and an occasional walleye.
“This is the quiet time on the Spring River before the big canoe hatch happens at the end of May. All of the campgrounds are open and offer great wading and are stocked weekly. Water levels are still up, so be careful wading!! A wading staff is very handy.”
(updated 5-4-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the water level on the Spring River is fishable. “This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers,” he says. Wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.
White River
The Army Corps of Engineers reported Thursday that the White River stage at Batesville was rising at 9.10 feet (flood stage is 15.0 feet). The Newport stage is slightly rising at 13.63 feet (down 4 feet from last week; flood stage is 26 feet). The stage at Augusta is dropping to 26.77 feet, less than a foot above flood stage of 26.00 feet.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
On Thursday, the Corps of Engineers said water flow at the Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam at Pine Bluff was 35,103 cfs. The stage at Pine Bluff is rising at 31.41 (flood stage is 42 feet). Further upstream, the flow at the Maynard Lock and Dam was 37,540 cfs.
(updated 5-4-2023) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no report this week.
Millwood Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 260.59 feet msl (normal pool: 259.20 feet msl; top flood elevation is 287.0 feet msl). Release at the dam was 11,817 cfs, up about 2,100 cfs from Wednesday and early Thursday morning.
(updated 5-4-2023) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said that as of Wednesday, Millwood Lake is back on a slow fall from rapid rise due to recent thunderstorms. It’s now 16 inches above normal conservation pool and clarity is improved from muddy to heavy stain in most locations. Up Little River from White Cliffs to Cossatot inflow from Wilton Landing remains heavy stain. There is reduced river flow rate and current. Millwood Lake tailwater elevation is near 235 feet msl and falling with gate discharge at the dam near 9,100 cfs in Little River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers Wednesday. Check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on the guide service’s website linked above, or at the Army Corps of Engineers website, for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels. Watch for random floaters and broken timber during any navigation on Little River and Millwood Lake. Lake elevation and discharge at Millwood Dam can change dramatically in mere hours with thunderstorms and fresh water influx.
Surface temps are stable this week, ranging 69-77 degrees depending on location and the time of day.
Mike had these fishing specifics from this week:
* Most largemouth bass have completed their spawning activities over the past several weeks in the oxbows and many are now post-spawn up Little River. Males and females from 2-3 pounds (and up to 9 pounds as recently as last week) have been caught shallow in 1-3 feet of water on flats near vegetation, and others in 6-9 feet deep creek channels where grass and reeds and fresh lily pad shoots are emerging. Brazalo Spinnerbaits, lizards, Bass Assassin Shads and Chatterbaits are working. Over the past couple weeks, largemouths have been randomly feeding in creek channels dumping into Little River. The oxbows continue providing best water clarity in many locations.
A few chunky 2- and 3-pound male bass were the most aggressive at midday into late afternoon over the past couple weeks and those fish were being seen randomly near deeper creek channels or ditches through the flats. The best bass activity is shifting from midday to early morning on buzzbaits, Chatterbaits in chartreuse Sexy Shad and black/blue in dingy water color. Bass Assassin Shads and soft plastic frogs, finessed through the new vegetation and lily pad blooms, have picked up decent-sized bass in the 2- to 4-pound class.
Senkos and floating trick worms like the Zoom Trick Worm, Barlow's Salty Rat Tails and the Yum Dingers will get good reactions. Merthiolate, June Bug/red, Blackberry and Pumpkinseed/chartreuse colors have been randomly working in the back of McGuire and Horseshoe Lake oxbows. Bass Assassin Shads in Pumpkinseed, Salt and Pepper Silver Phantom and Chico's Red Ear have been getting bit near cypress trees and fresh vegetation from both post-spawn female and male bass near bedding areas over several weeks. Brazalo Spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or River Shad with red blades were catching some decent bass. Yum Christie Critters in black/blue, Brush Hogs and lizards in black/blue, Watermelon Candy and cherryseed continue working for shallow bass inside grass and vegetation near stumps in 1-3 feet of depth.
Horseshoe and McGuire oxbows along Little River have had the best water clarity and the most aggressive largemouth and and spotted bass over the past few weeks. “In McGuire Oxbow up Little River, we have been catching a few decent 15- to 17-inch bass on Yum Christie Critters, and on a Bill Lewis SB-57, ATV Square Bills, or MR-6 crankbait in Millwood Magic, Red Glitter Craw or Tennessee Shad and picking up a few random bites.”
* White bass have pretty much completed their spawning run up Little River, and schools are beginning to disperse back down Little River. These whites have been roaming points, creek channels dumping into the river, and continue to bite well in broken schools. Most of the larger schools of white bass over the past couple of weeks have begun moving back toward the main lake and are scattered in numerous schools along Little River. Those white bass were ranging from 2-3.5 pounds, and continue hitting on Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Hammered Spoons, Bomber Fat Free Shads, Little George Tail-Spinners, Heddon Sonar Metal Blades and Rocket Shads as long as you can locate shad and schools in creek mouths dumping into Little River.
These schools are migrating back down river from the annual spawning runs up near Patterson Shoals, and almost every creek dump held some broken schools of whites over the past several weeks. Sexy Blueback Herring, Millwood Magic custom-painted Little John Crankbaits and Bomber Fat Free Guppys in Tennessee Shad were able to coax a bite over the past several weeks from these broken schools, ranging from 1.5-2.5 pounds.
No reports on crappie, bream or catfish.
Lake Columbia
No reports.
Lake Erling
(updated 4-20-2023) Lake Erling Guide Service (870-904-8546) says anglers are still catching a lot of crappie. They are still finding a few in shallow water, but most of the catches recently are deeper, and those still have eggs. “Don’t know if the water has messed them up or not, but it looks like more are going to spawn still,” they say.
Best crappie fishing is coming in 16-20 feet of water, and the crappie are suspended – they are not over anything like brush. Minnows and hand-tied jigs (gray and gray/white are the go-to colors) are your best bet.
Catfishing has really picked up well. Anglers are catching a lot of large flatheads and blues – some of these have been in the 20- to 40-pound size. They’re catching those on noodles baited with little bream or goldfish.
Also, they’re catching a lot of smaller catfish on poles with little bream, many of these being 1-pound or so fryers. There is no problem for anglers catching limits of catfish these days.
Redear have bedded up, and bream anglers are catching a lot on shoreline in beds. Some 12- to 13-inch redear were coming out of the lake this week. Most of those have been caught on crickets
With all of that going on, there’s been nothing heard on bass fishing. But anglers can catch a lot of everything at Erling these days, they tell us.
Lake Greeson Tailwater
For the most updated Narrows Dam generation schedule from SWEPCO, click here.
Lake Greeson
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at Narrows Dam was 543.88 feet msl (full pool: 548.00 feet msl).
(updated 5-4-2023) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs said on the weekly “Wild Side Show” on KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz that the crappie bite on Greeson. If you want to go crappie fishing, he says that for the last week everybody he knows that fishes for crappie is done by 8 a.m. They’re up on the bank and fishing in the guts of pockets. You don’t have to brush pile fish right now for crappie on Greeson. Literally just fish the guts of pockets in 5-6 feet of water and catch all you want.
DeGray Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 407.54 feet msl (full pool: 408.00 feet msl).
(updated 5-4-2023 John Duncan of YoYo Guide Service at Iron Mountain Marina says, “Hey everyone. For those who do not know it, it rained quite a bit lately! The lake level is 407.52 feet msl as I wright this. Water temperature varies from mid-60s to 70 degrees.
“To be honest, with the high water and bad, windy days, I have limited time both on the water and reports coming in. For that lack of information, I apologize.
“With this water rising, catfishing should pick up. Lots of trotlines are out. Most are running either down points or across coves. These catfish normally move into the shallow waters to feed during high water. Crawfish, top bait and goldfish are super.
“I have no new info on black bass or bream. We have a full moon but may be a little early for the bedding bream. Not sure, need to check.
“Crappie can still be caught on jigs and minnows in the brush piles. Los of anglers sniping, though. Fish the tops in 18-24 feet of water. Fish slow and close. They are really finicky.
“No a lot of information to help you. Huge water volumes and large temperature fluctuations are not helping to get things settled down to develop good patterns. Go get them! Best wishes! Safety and fellowship goes a long way on the water.”
(updated 5-4-2023) Randy Plyler with Plyler Outdoors Guide Service (870-210-0522) said, “Lake Degray action is going hot. Water level is at 407.49 feet msl and water temperature is ranging 67-73 degrees. We have a full moon coming up and the last round of bass that didn't spawn on last full moon are roaming the shallows as we speak. Been seeing several bass ranging anywhere from 1-pound buck males to quite a few over 7 pounds. Even saw a couple that were pushing 10 pounds. These bass can be caught on a fluke, a wacky worm and a Texas-rigged lizard.
“I've also noticed a few more crappie have moved up shallow on some beds as well. Bream are roaming the shallows attacking the bass beds for eggs and small fry. So don't rule out a perch-color bait as well. Crappie can still be caught on brush 8-10 feet deep, as well as some shallower. No reports on whites or hybrids.”
(updated 5-4-2023) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs said on the weekly “Wild Side Show” on KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz that Degray is in a similar to Lake Ouachita. Still a bigger topwater bite is going on at Degray.
The white bass run was two weeks ago. Whenever we got all that rain, that was the peak of the white bass run on Degray. Hybrids are usually right there behind them. I’m not going to say it’s done by any means, but we’re on the back side of the curve of that. You do have to pay attention to is this next full moon coming up. The full moon in May and when the mayfly hatch happens, that’s comes up. That means the bluegill spawn is coming on. That bream spawn in May is some of the most fun time of the year. The catfish happen at the same time as bream.
De Queen Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 437.67 feet msl (full pool: 437.00 feet msl).
Dierks Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 530.80 feet msl (full pool: 526.00 feet msl).
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 5-4-2023) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam is 55 degrees with stained conditions in the tailrace. Entergy has scheduled 24/7 generation for the next week to bring Lake Ouachita down back out of flood pool. This has been an ongoing effort with the heavy rainfall of 2023 and has prevented people from boating and fishing in the Carpenter Dam tailrace safely for most of the year. April marked the final stocking month for rainbow trout until November, with 4,320 trout scheduled to be released. Big numbers of fish had relocated downstream, but are migrating upstream to feed and establish territory in the nutrient rich tailrace. More rainfall has forced Entergy to run heavy generation flows, so the public needs to check lake conditions before planning a day on Lake Catherine. Fishing below a hydroelectric dam poses many problems dictated by Mother Nature for boaters and anglers. Over four months of the trout season have been lost due to flooding. It’s hoped the weather will become stable enough to salvage some of the remaining time the trout are present in the tailrace.
The following techniques will give anglers a chance at catching numbers of rainbow trout that have received little fishing pressure this season:
Fly-fishermen are now handicapped to some degree with the lake now at summertime pool, but they can still access areas that hold feeding fish. Trout key in on the shad kill this time of year, as good numbers of threadfin shad in Lake Hamilton are drawn through the turbines and scattered throughout the tailrace area. Thousands of shad have migrated into the tailrace to spawn, creating a perfect environment for area fish to feed on baitfish. Flies that imitate injured shad will draw immediate strikes from hungry rainbows. Micro jigs in white or black that are cast with a strike indicator will produce strikes in current or slack water. Egg patterns in white or yellow used in the same manner can be productive when the action slows down. Spin-fishermen using PowerBait in yellow or white and lures such as a Super Duper and Little Cleo in silver are proven trout-catching baits in many conditions. Crankbaits that represent fleeing crayfish will also catch trout that are searching for prey. Live bait anglers can use waxworms or mealworms fished just of the bottom with a marshmallow floater, or earthworms and nightcrawlers in the same manner, to target larger trout.
Excellent angling opportunities will present themselves when the heavy current is slowed by Entergy as Lake Ouachita is returned to normal levels for all methods of fishing giving the public a good chance of success for the first time this year. The walleye spawn is nearing an end, but many fish will remain the tailrace to rest and feed up from the rigors of reproduction. Trolling shallow-running crankbaits against the current is an excellent method of covering water and locating feeding fish. The crappie spawn is still underway, and these fish can be caught with live minnows and jigs fished in current breaks around sandbars and rock structure. Crappie shy away from heavy current and thrive in protected areas out of the main flow. White bass will migrate into the area next month in huge numbers to spawn and their presence rounds out a multispecies opportunity for angling. The public is now urged to take advantage of the changing weather and fishing possibilities at all area lakes. Always follow all park and lake regulations when visiting the Carpenter Dam use area and be aware of lake conditions before planning a day on the water.
Lake Dardanelle
As of Thursday afternoon, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s flow at Dardanelle Lock and Dam as 7,829 cfs. Elevation was 337.93 feet msl and the tailwater was at 286.64 feet msl. (Top navigation pool is 338.2 and bottom pool is 336.0.) The stage is 6.48 feet as of Thursday afternoon (flood stage is 32 feet).
(updated 4-27-2023) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-647-9945) said that due to the recent rain, things will start to muddy up – and cool down a bit. The largemouth bass bite will still be good in some of the backwater areas that is clear. Frogs, flukes and worms will put a few in the boat. Square-bill crankbaits should be working well around bass guarding fry. Jigs are still working well around vegetation if you can find the shad. Weightless plastics such as swimbaits, lizards and Senkos will put some in the boat as well around the spawning fish.
Crappie are still biting well along jetties, stumps and brush piles. Natural colors such as Monkey Milk have been really good on the brush. Cajun Cricket has been working well along the jetties. Black/yellow or black/green has been working well around stumps.
White bass have been hanging out around the mouth of creeks. Crankbaits, spoons and inline spinners have been working well. Striped bass are still in some of the creeks, and around strong current. Swimbaits and Rat-L-Traps have been working well. Catfish have been really good on all species. Channel cats in the creeks and in some of the backwater have been good on worms and crickets. Flatheads have been good around the bluff and jetty rock on live perch. Blue cats have been good on cut bait; stick to the fresh bait, shad or skip jack. Sunfish and bream have been good on worms and crickets in the creeks and some on the edge of the backwater on sand spawning.
Lake Hamilton
(updated 4-27-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said right now, in the early morning and fishing throughout the day, a small buzzbait seems to be doing well for the black bass, in a white color. Anglers are fishing it around the docks and in some of the creeks and fingers off the lake. Also, a wacky rigged Senko fished around the docks has been doing well. A Chatterbait will draw some action as well. Some anglers are targeting those 10- to 15-foot deep brush piles with post-spawn fish moving into those spots
Lake Nimrod
As of noon Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 6.2 feet high at 351.16 feet msl (normal pool: 343.71 feet msl; top flood elevation is 373.0 feet msl).
(updated 5-4-2023) Ken Winstead at Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) in Perryville said the crappie bite continues to be typical for the continuous water changes due to weather, so move around from shallow to deep water. It’s hit or miss. Best colors are silver, chartreuse, Monkey Milk, black/chartreuse, Cajun Cricket, Kiwi, Mo-Glo, silver Blue Ice, orange/white, Diamond Mist. Also throw Crappie Magnet, minnows and nightcrawlers. Bream are biting great on redworms and crickets. Black bass are doing well on dark colors, as well as watermelon red, red or blue shad, and minnows and worms.
Catfish are biting well on liver of all kinds, dough bait, minnows and nightcrawlers.
Lake Ouachita
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at Blakely Dam was 578.42 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).
(updated 5-4-2023) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said crappie are finishing their spawn and are really beginning to stack on the brush piles. Tops that have produced the best are in 18-24 feet of water fished 8-12 feet deep with minnow under corks or tightlining jigs. “Observations around the fish cleaning stations let me know ample numbers of spotted bass are being caught and the catfish are obviously starting to move up.”
(updated 5-4-2023) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs said on the weekly “Wild Side Show” on KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz that Lake Ouachita is at full pool. The rainiest year so far on record in central Arkansas made the fish spawn “go backward. It retarded it. This does happen quite frequently.” One of his anglers went out Wednesday morning and said it was like going back in time to 2½ weeks ago and was catching bass on a floating worm right in front of buckbrush and on a topwater bait. You get a limited window for this, so it’s still going on and now is the time to catch up.
(updated 5-4-2023) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are still good. Topwater baits are working in multiple applications; shallow frog fishing or deeper, open water Spook/boy howdy fishing. Swim jigs and soft plastics are producing some quality sacks too. As for walleye shallow-running crankbaits and swim jigs are still working for these fish. Try main river/lake channel points for these fish. Stripers are good. These fish are moving more to the central portions of the lake and can be caught on jerkbaits, Bama rigs and a top water C-10 Redfin. Bream are good. Try a cricket or worm near brush in the 20-25 depth range for a quality bite. Crappie are fair to good Catfish are very good on jugs and trotlines with live or cut bait. Water temperature is ranging 64-68 degrees. The clarity is clearing. Lake level Thursday was 578.69 feet. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Friday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 398.48 feet msl (full pool: 387.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 419.0 feet msl).
White River/Clarendon Area
The Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday reported the Clarendon gauge is slightly dropping at 27.53 feet (flood stage is 26.00 feet).
Horseshoe Lake
(updated 5-4-2023) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) had no new reports.
Cook’s Lake
(update 5-4-2023) Wil Hafner, facility manager at Cook’s Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321), says the White River is finally dropping, which in turn is dropping the water level of Cook's Lake. “We will keep an eye on the water level and will reopen as soon as we can,” he said. When it opens, the lake will be available to youth and mobility-impaired anglers and up to two guests. Please note the recent change in phone number to the facility as well, listed above.
Note: msl is mean sea level; cfs is cubic feet per second.