June 15, 2023
Jim Harris Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
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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: What a way to spend a 53rd wedding anniversary! Linda (no last name) landed this massive brown trout while fishing out of Cotter Trout Dock with her husband recently. Photo provided by Cotter Trout Dock.
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
NOTICE: AGFC employees and contractors will be conducting herbicide applications to Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir and Lake Overcup June 5-9. Contractors will complete the application of the EPA-approved aquatic herbicides by June 9. The treatment causes no harm to wildlife, people or aquatic life, but water irrigated from the lake can harm gardens, flowerbeds and lawns if used on neighboring lands. By federal law these herbicides have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. The AGFC asks adjacent landowners to not irrigate for lawns or gardens with water from these lakes until October. Multiple applications per year are necessary for effective control of alligatorweed, and being unable to irrigate during this time is another unfortunate effect of this nonnative invasive aquatic plant species. With controlling it, alligatorweed can infest lakes, restricting access to boathouses, boat ramps and fishign locations, and choke out native vegetation and fish populations. For more information, call the AGFC Fisheries Office in Mayflower at 833-338-3636.
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 6-15-2023) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said that with the summer heat coming on, the bream get slow at times but they’re still biting on crickets, redworms and small hair jigs. Catfish are still doing well on trotlines as well as for anglers on the lake. Goldfish, trotline minnows, nightcrawlers, shad and skipjack are recommended. Black bass are baiting on curly tail worms (7½- to 10-inch are recommended), Whopper Plopper (good colors here are shad or bone color, as well as black and red craw or Delta craw), spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, creature baits, Chatterbaits and any bladed jig.
Crappie are still somewhat slow, but Bates recommends minnows and jigs fished around trees at about 4-6 feet depth. Everything is good about the water now, they report, with the usual Lake Conway stain to the clarity.
Little Red River
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Greers Ferry Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website or by calling (501) 362-5150). Also check the Southwestern Power Administration website (swpa.gov) to see forecast generation schedule.
(updated 6-15-2023) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip’em All Guide Service (501-250-0730) said the Little Red River has settled into a summertime water release pattern. Daily afternoon generation provides good wade- and drift-fishing opportunities. If you plan to fish the Trout Magnet, consider using pink, cotton candy and white-colored bodies on chartreuse jigheads. For fly-fishing, consider the San Juan Worm, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail 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 6-15-2023) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips/Little Red River Fly Guides (501-507-3688) said Greers Ferry Lake is at power pool level. The Southwestern Power Administration has been running water at various times, so always check the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock app before heading out on the water.
The bite has been really good while fishing the falling water. Try fishing along the deep water next to the moss beds or the oxygenated shoals and plunge pools. Anything buggy is working well. Caddis patterns and Pheasant Tails along with midge patterns fished underneath an indicator have been putting fish in the boat.
(updated 6-15-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said they have been running a little water off and on daily, so it’s been lower, allowing for opportunities for both wading and fishing from a boat. Anglers are catching trout above and below the shoals using a No. 3 Rapala Countdown or a small Rooster Tail. Also try a Trout Magnet in pink or white, as well as a 1/16-ounce Maribou Jig in olive color.
Greers Ferry Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Greers Ferry Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 6-15-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said early morning has been best for the fishing because of pleasure boat traffic. Most bass anglers in the early morning are using a clear Zara Spook, as well as bone color Spook, for both largemouth and spotted bass both on the upper and lower ends of the lake. Also a shad color Whopper Plopper is a good choice now, and they are also throwing a Carolina rig on main lake points. In creeks and on secondary points, they’re throwing a shaky head with a craw on it or a football jig in PB&J color.
Walleye have been biting well; anglers should drop shot a night crawler or try trolling a Rapala Shad Rap across main lake points.
Crappie have been biting in 20-25 foot of water on 2-inch Keitech swimbaits. Use anything in a natural shad color.
(updated 6-15-2023) Tommy Cauley of Fishfinder Guide Service (501-940-1318) said the water level now at Greers Ferry Lake is at 461.85 feet msl, 0.69 feet below normal pool for this time of year (462.54 feet msl). Greers Ferry is in the same shape as most lakes around the country: All species are scattered and about two weeks behind regular schedules and in between spawning and post-spawn and all in between.
With that said, crappie are eating live bait, jigs and crankbaits in 10-40 feet of water according to how you like to present your bait. Stay around baitfish. When you find them, walleye are eating on crawlers and crankbaits 10-25 feet. Catfish are scattered from 10-60 feet eating lots of stuff on lines and rod and reels. Bream are eating and preparing for big spawn on this next full moon; use crickets, crawlers and inline spinners working super shallow out to 25 feet. Hybrid and white bass are chewing well, roaming, as they have not gotten set up to stay yet on offshore stuff where you can really work on them good day in and day out. It’s coming, but for now stay with the bait and fish will be close; look in water 25-50 feet for most active fish roaming and use spoons, inline spinners, topwater plugs, swimbaits and Alabama rigs.
Black bass are like the rest, roaming and not locked in offshore stuff very well yet. Alabama rigs, topwater baits, Texas-rigged worm, football heads-rigs and crankbaits and spinnerbaits are working. Stay around the bait shad, bream, etc. on the shoreline out to 40 feet and suspended over deep water.
Harris Brake Lake
(updated 6-15-2023) Ken Winstead at Whiskers Sporting Goods (501-889-2011) said bream are biting great on redworms and crickets. Black bass are biting well; dark colors are being favorited along with minnows and nightcrawlers. Good colors for artificial baits are watermelon red, and red, blue and grape. Catfish are biting great on liver of all kinds and dough bait, as well as minnows and nightcrawlers. Crappie are biting typical for changing water with the up-and-down weather, so move around from shallow to deep water. Good luck, crappie are hit and miss. Best colors are silvers/chartreuse, Monkey Milk, black/chartreuse, Cajun Cricket, kiwi, Mo-Glo, silver, blue ice, orange/white and diamond mist. Also fish a Crappie Magnet, minnows or nightcrawlers.
(updated 6-1-2023) Harris Brake Lake Resort (501-889-2745) says bream and catfish have been really biting. “There are a lot of them around,” they report. Crickets and worms are the way to catch the bream. Also, both species have hit their spawning seasons at Harris Brake, so this weekend should be a good one, along with a full moon for the bream. Some anglers have been catching black bass, mostly on bass minnows.
One angler earlier this week, fishing right by the dock, hauled in a 5.6-pound catfish. Small bream and nightcrawlers are the baits mostly being used for cats.
Crappie have moved out to the deeper end of the lake, according to several anglers. There have been fewer reports of catches.
The lake level is about medium or normal for Harris Brake. The water is closer to clear.
Lake Overcup
(updated 6-15-2023) Lacey Williams at Lakeview Landing on Arkansas Highway 95 (501-252-1437) said the rain didn't stop everyone from fishing last weekend. The kids are catching catfish and bream off of the dock. Some crappie also. Best baits are nightcrawlers and minnows.
(updated 6-8-2023) John “Catfish” Banks at Overcup Landing off Arkansas Highway 9 said the water level is about normal, the clarity is good and the surface temperature is around 84 degrees. Black bass are doing well on buzzbaits and black plastic worms. Crappie are still being caught in 10-12 feet of water and out of the brushtops in 5 feet of water on minnows.
Catfish are being caught on jigs and trotlines baited with perch. Bream are being caught on crickets and worms, but crickets have been catching more.
Brewer Lake
(update 6-15-2023) David Hall at Dad’s Bait Shop (501-289-2210), a 24/7 self-serve bait shop at the lake, had no new reports.
Lake Maumelle
(updated 6-8-2023) WestRock Landing in Roland (501-658-5598) says bream are hot this week. Reports of them up spawning in 3-5 feet and 15 feet deep. Try using worms or crickets for an excellent bite.
Largemouth bass are fair. Reports of the bass being found in a wide range of depths. They can be found shallow, some are starting to hit topwater as well as in 16-20 feet depth. Try using crankbaits, flukes, wacky rig shallow and Texas rig deep. Spotted (Kentucky) bass are fair, with reports of them being found deep, at around 16-20 feet. Shaky heads are your best bet for the spot action.
Twenty-six boats went out in the Tuesday night black bass tournament this week, and 14 caught limits. Cameron Nesterenko and Andrew Wooley caught 12.94 bass to win, edging Billy Wright and Allen Ward’s 12.61 pounds, though Billy and Allen brought in the Big Bass of 4.70 pounds.
White bass produced no reports this week. Crappie are fair, with reports of them hanging in the brush around 18 feet of water. Try using a white Bobby Garland Jig or live minnows. A few catfish anglers are catching some.
Water temperature is ranging 85-87 degrees.
(updated 6-1-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said whites and hybrids are running east end of the lake. You can catch them on Rooster Tail or a spoon.
Arkansas River at Morrilton
For the real-time water flow at the Ormond Lock and Dam and Morrilton stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
Little Maumelle River
(updated 6-1-2023) Ray Hudson at River Valley Marina (501-517-1250) said the fishing is about the same as it’s been for a couple of weeks. Black bass have been doing real well, while the bream are still bedded. Crappie are done with their spawn and have gone back to deeper water.
Bass are being caught in 1-2 feet of water, up shallow. Anglers are fishing with spinnerbaits and worms, and one angler reported catching them this week on Chatterbait. They seem to be on the tail end of spawning, Ray said.
Bream will bite crickets and redworms. Catfish are being caught on trotlines baited with shiners. No reports on crappie or on white bass, Ray said. The water is normal level and clear. He estimates the water temperature is in the high 70s.
Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)
For the real-time water flow at the Toad Suck Lock and Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
Arkansas River (Little Rock Area Pools)
For the real-time water flow at the Murray Lock and Dam and David D. Terry Lock and Dam, as well as the Little Rock pool stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 6-15-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) reports that anglers seemed to be concentrating in recent days focused on the main river rather than backwaters. They were fishing a lot of crankbaits throughout the day for bass. Good colors were gizzard shad or chartreuse with a blue back.
Also on the main river, anglers have been throwing a shaky head around the ends of jetties. Early and late, a bone color Zara Spoon is a good call, as well as a buzzbait, both fished in the main river around the jetties.
Catfish are biting below the dam on nightcrawlers and stink bait.
(updated 6-15-2023) AGFC staff fishing the Little Rock Pool of the Arkansas River last weekend found the catfish very active and hungry both for rod-and-reel anglers and for trotline setters just east of downtown near the airport. Lots of bream in that area were biting, especially the small ones perfect for catching catfish. Large blues and fair-sized flatheads were biting. A lot of other fish where coming up on the topwater after the sun went down. The river was at 85 degrees at sunset and there was little current. Set trotlines from 7 out to 45 feet depth for the cats.
White River
(updated 6-15-2023) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “Our mild June temperatures have added to the fun and perfected the dynamic trout fishing on the White River near Cotter; the quality and quantity of trout satisfied anglers of all ages.”
Bull Shoals Dam is holding steady, averaging one unit (3,000 cfs) most of the morning and early afternoon. Late afternoon releases increase the flow – 9,000-13,000 cfs – to supply rising power demand. Bull Shoals Lake is at 661.41 feet msl and continuing to drop slowly despite the recent rains.
The favorite technique this week was, by far, fishing artificial baits. The Vibrax Blue Fox three-sixteenth-ounce spinner, gold or rainbow, led the pack, followed by a white or yellow-bodied Rooster Tail. Keep it light at one-sixth ounce for the most part.
The water level is right for some jig fishing if you're floating in a jon boat: olive and brown/orange jigs were the most productive, but the white and bubblegum pink jig caught some attention, too.
“We're still reeling in browns, some days upward of nine for a single angler. That slimy, little sculpin attracts the browns like no other bait, but you could try to best a sculpin with a bigger jerkbait (a No. 7 Rapala gold-and-black Countdown?) or a fat, air-blown nightcrawler especially during the late-afternoon water rises.
“Have fun in the chase. Come to the river and catch a trout or two with us.”
(updated 6-15-2023) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said the rain the last few days have been a welcome sight to many people. Luckily the rain hasn’t affected the White River in Calico Rock. “Over the last week we have seen Bulls Shoals Dam increase generation during the afternoon and decrease again in the evening. As a result, at Calico Rock, we are seeing water rising in the morning and dropping later in the mornings and into the afternoon.”
Norfork Dam’s generators aren’t working and they are releasing water from the spill gates with a flow reaching about 4,200 cfs during the day. Water levels are averaging 4.5-6 feet. With the lower water levels, fishing has been great.
Drift-fishing with silver-colored inline spinners with orange UV glow eggs and shrimp continue to work great. Quarter-ounce Thomas Colorado Spoons in nickel/gold or copper/gold have been very effective for rainbows. Additionally, rainbow CD7 Rapala Countdowns and Purpledescent colored Shad Rap lures worked well. Drift-fishing with sculpins has resulted in some very nice 16-inch-plus rainbows and some 18-inch-plus brown trout.
With the lower water be careful to read the water. Many obstructions are now exposed or just under the water. In the Calico Rock area, a rule of thumb is the big rocks are on the bluff side of the river and the gravel bars are on the opposite side of the river. This week we had one stocking of trout by the AGFC using its pontoon raft to stock 4,800 trout between Calico Rock and Sylamore Creek.
(updated 6-15-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service at Cotter said that during the past week, that had several rain events that combined for 1½ inches in Cotter, warm temperatures and moderate winds. The lake level at Bull Shoals fell 0.4 foot to rest at 0.5 foot below power pool of 662 feet msl. This is 34.5feet below the top of flood pool. Upstream, Table Rock Lake fell 0.4 foot to rest at 0.3 foot below power pool and 14.3 feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell 0.5 foot to rest at 0.1 foot below power pool or 8.7 feet below the top of flood pool. The White has had no wadable water and lower flows. Norfork Lake fell 0.2 foot to rest at 0.5 foot above power pool of 556.75 feet msl and 22.7 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork has had wadable water every day. All of the lakes are at or near power pool. Expect lower flows in the coming days. On the Norfork, all turbines at the dam are inoperable for the foreseeable future. Minimum release is being made through the siphon at continuous flows of 185 cfs; additional flows are made through the flood gates.
On the White, the hot spot has been Rim Shoals. The White has enjoyed 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 says his favorite has been a Sunday Special (size 14) with a ruby midge dropper (size 18).
Norfork Lake fell 0.2 foot to rest at 0.5 foot above power pool of 556.75 feet msl and 22.7 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork has had wadable water every day. All of the lakes are at or near power pool. Expect lower flows in the coming days. On the Norfork, all turbines at the dam are inoperable for the foreseeable future. Minimum release is being made through the siphon at continuous flows of 185 cfs; additional flows are made through the flood gates.
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.
John also said, “A week ago I hurt myself on a guide trip. At the end of a successful trip, I was pushing my boat off the bank so that I could run it up on my trailer and head home. I had put it up on the bank to unload my clients and secure the boat while I backed the trailer into the river. I had run it up too far and it was difficult to push it into the water. I redoubled my efforts and injured my back. I made it home. Luckily my neighbors, Brian and Amy, put my boat cover on for me.
“The thing that I don’t understand is how I injured myself that bad. I go the gym three days a week and do an intense elliptical work out followed by a full weight machine circuit. I concentrate on strengthening my back and body core with crunches and side lifts. At home, I do a lot of yard work to include cutting my large lawn with a push mower and turning the garden. I have been spreading homemade compost on our garden and 7 cubic yards of mulch. All of this was done without so much as a sore back and then I go fishing and really hurt myself. Fishing is supposed to be fun!
“I sat around the house hoping it would get better. That plan did not work. I finally went to MedExpress. They checked me out, gave me a prescription for some painkillers and muscle relaxers and told me everything would be OK in two to four weeks.
“Fly-fishing guides are independent contractors. We work for ourselves. If we don’t work, we don’t get paid. We have to pay for our medical care and any retirement funds. Fortunately I am eligible for VA for my health care, which covered my trip to MedExpress. Due to the length of the healing of my injuries I had to cancel some booked guide trips. I referred my clients to my fellow guides. I hope for a quick recovery so I can get back to work.
“The treatment is working, and last Saturday I was able to help teach at a casting seminar we held at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. My wife, Lori, was the lead instructor and I taught the Belgian cast, the reach cast and the roll cast. I took it easy and was careful not to injure myself. I am feeling better every day.
“Now I have two problems. One is that I looked at the generation on the White River and noted that the lake levels had reached power pool and was at a very fishable level. The Norfork Tailwater has been on the bottom for days and was quite wadable. This makes me want to go fishing. My other problem is that I can see my grass growing through my windows when I look outside. I need to be patient and wait until I am better able to do these things without messing up my back more.
“Be careful out there. It is the little things that hurt you.”
Bull Shoals Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Bull Shoals Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 6-15-2023) Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said Wednesday that lake level is steady at 661 feet, 2 feet above the normal pool. Water temperature is about 80 degrees. “Bass activity seems to be in the 10-25 feet depth. I’m spending lots of time graphing offshore, checking summer spots, swings, points, bluff ends, brush piles, drops and ledges. Most fish still seem to be suspended looking up with the steady generation.”
Look in large creeks early. With cloudy days and warm, windy rainwater, Del suggests powerfishing Chatterbait, spinnerbaits or Rat-L-Trap-style baits. Try on the swing banks or in or around the bluegill spawning flats, pockets, bushes – cover water. There’s a big Texas-rigged redworm bite in some of the shallower brush piles close to deep water.
When it’s sunny, flat and calm a drop-shot is tough to beat in tough conditions or with suspended fish. Try points cracking a tube or stroking a Jewel half-ounce Special Ops football jig in green pumpkin orange. Perch colors, too, fished in the 10-20 feet range.
On sunny days with clear water, use natural colors and small profile baits. Look at ledges, keep the boat off the fish. Start early with a topwater, and as it slows a small 2.8 McMinnow is working. Once the sun gets up, drop-shot a Robo Worm. Don’t be surprised if you find a few walleye on those points in 15-20 feet. The shad are broke up high in the water column mostly over deep water. Early morning topwater has slowed up a bit, but bomb casts and look around for activity, as they are schooled up. Try a Lucky Craft Gunfish, white popper, or Spook Jr. topwater as well as a flutter spoon or Jewel Scope Spin on schoolers early in the morning or, if it’s cloudy, all day.
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
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Norfork Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 6-15-2023) Steven “Scuba Steve” Street at Blackburn’s Resort said the lake level was 557.05 feet msl and had dropped an inch in the last 24 hours by late Wednesday evening. The generators are still inoperable but they opened sluice gates equivalent to about 1⅔ generators for about nine hours. The White River at Newport is 7.68 feet, indicating there is not much water being let out anywhere. There is no effort to drop the area lakes. The surface water temperature was 82 degrees and the main lake is clear with the creeks being stained a little green but very clear near the shore. There is a thermocline at 16-17 feet with cold water at 20 feet.
Spearfishing season opens Thursday and the conditions look good. Bass are coming shallow to feed on crawdads in the evening and a few are coming up early morning on shad. Stripers are going deeper and seem to like 60 feet but are in 60-90 feet of water. You have to get down to them and a three-quarter ounce spoon is your best bet. Some walleye are with them. Bass fry are in brush looking for cover and walleye and bass are following them. Crappie are starting to hang around brush in 18-25 feet of water and bluegill are shallower. Cast a 1/16th-ounce jig on light, clear line past the brush and let it sink into it. The water is too clear to sit on top of the brush and fish with live bait and a slip float. If you do, set your depth 3 feet deeper than you can see your bait.
The lake overall is in excellent condition for swimming, boating and fishing and is at a good level. Visit blackburnsresort.com and click on Scuba Steve's blog for a daily report.
(updated 6-15-2023) Lou Gabric at Hummingbird Hideaway Resort 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 6-15-2023) 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 above power pool of 556.75 feet msl and 22.7 feet below the top of flood pool. The Norfork has had wadable water every day. All of the lakes are at or near power pool. Expect lower flows in the coming days. On the Norfork, all turbines at the dam are inoperable for the foreseeable future. Minimum release is being made through the siphon at continuous flows of 185 cfs; additional flows are made through the flood gates.
There has been 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 says his favorite rig has been a cerise San Juan Worm and a ruby midge. 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 6-15-2023) John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are fishing better. With warmer water, the smallmouths are more active. 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
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time outflow report from Beaver Lake Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 6-15-2023) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake stabilized since the Army Corps of Engineers shut the floodgates. It was a fairly rapid drawdown lowering the lake 2 feet in less than two weeks. This has had the fish scrambling all over and has made fishing a little more of a challenge. Once it stays stable and the heat shows up, the summer pattern will set up. That is an early or late proposition. Stripers have been caught from Horseshoe down to Point 3. You need to move, as the fish are very mobile right now. They are here one day and gone the next.
Crappie have been fair to good on brush in 20 feet or water – trolling is a great option. “As I tell my clients, it’s not glamorous, but is a great way to put together a fish fry.
“Also on the troll we have been getting some big cats. This will show the people that think cats are strictly bottom feeders that there are aggressive gamefish. These fish are smack dab in the thermocline, which at this point is from 17-28 feet in most places.” Walleye are starting to be caught on bottom bouncers and crawlers. Look from Nelson’s Hollow all the way to the dam. Bluegill are there for the taking. “Lots of boats out, so be careful. Good luck!”
Visit Jon’s Facebook page for latest updates, FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR.
Beaver Tailwater
(updated 6-15-2023) Guide Austin Kennedy (479-244-0039) said this week has been good on the tailwater. Nothing drastically changed since the last report. The Army Corps of Engineers still has been generating pretty much starting at 10 a.m., but that has not stopped the bite. In fact, it increases the bite in most cases.
“Most of our fish were caught using light terminal tackle, and Pautzke Fire Bait. When the sun moved higher in the sky, we would switch it over to quarter-ounce spoons and coat the spoons using Pautzke Fire Gel. Try letting the spoon sink a bit before retrieving, due to the water still being a little deep. The water levels are still low and continue to fall, seems like each day. If we can get some overcast or rainy days, the bite should pick up a lot!”
“This week’s hot spot for trout has been above Spider Creek. Try hitting the deeper holes and looking for slack water during generation. The white bass and walleye are still up toward Holiday Island, but you need to look for them. Jigging live minnows off of points and humps has done the trick. There are still quite a few males in the river, so get after them.
“Remember, for additional updates follow my Facebook page (Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service). Hope you all are able to get out and catch some fish.”
Lake Fayetteville
(updated 6-15-2023) Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reported that catfish are good off the rocks and are pretty shallow. Anglers were using nightcrawlers, cut bait (mostly little bream). The grown-up bream are doing really well this week, both the bluegill and redear. Redworms are working mostly, as crickets are hard to come by, but they’ll work if you have them.
Black bass are doing well on plastics and some spinnerbaits. Crappie are steady, you have to work for them. Jigs and minnows are being used, mostly jigs. The fish are shallower than you might expect.”
Water pretty much stays at a normal level, even with the rain this week. It may rise briefly but gets back to normal within a day, they report.
Lake Charles
(updated 6-15-2023) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) reported that all species are biting well at the lake, and the best days are ahead, based on “moon times.” Those days are June 15-21. Planning ahead for July, the best days based on the moon are expected to be July 14-20, while good days should be July 1-6.
This past week, bream were good on worms and Gulp Alive crickets. Crappie are good on minnows, jigs and worms. Black bass are biting well on soft plastic worms, topwater lures and live worms. Catfishing are good on worms and blood bait.
Count on the lake to be murky in clarity, while the water level has settled in to its normal summer level. Surface temperature this weekend was around 76 degrees.
Lake Poinsett
(updated 6-1-2023) Seth Boone, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, said Lake Poinsett’s fishing has been good. The bream are biting on worms and Bream Killers. Catfish are good on live or stink bait.
Crappie, while catch-and-release only, have been hammering pink and chartreuse jigs. Bass will bite crankbaits and shallow-water baits, and they also are catch-and-release only. Bream and catfish may be kept at regular state limits.
Spring River
(updated 6-8-2023) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said the Spring has been running at 390 cfs and water clarity has been clear. A long dry spell has the river looking great for catching. Heavy bugs hatches most mornings of Caddis and Mayflies. Nymphing with some dry fly action has been working great. With the water being really clear, on bright sunny days you have to get the fly down with an indicator rig or tight-lining. The rare overcast day has been easy catching with some streamer action.
There are a lot of big fish in the river. It’s been kind of hard to catch them with stocking ramping up for the summer season. It's hard not to catch a beautiful, freshly stocked rainbow. Average stocking size on the Spring River is around 12 inches and the river is stocked weekly at nine locations. This is a great time to learn to fly-fish – easy fishing on the Spring this time of year.
Smallmouth bass are hitting but have been tough the last few weeks. “This is the time to chase smallies, and we have been so busy with chasing bows, we have not done many trips for smallies, but that should ramp up this month. The smallmouth bass is the native fish of the Spring River and local creeks. Hard to beat skull head Sculpin patterns; heavy-weighted Woollies in olive, brown and black work well; and Clousers. Got to get it to the bottom and work it slow.
“The canoe hatch is on every Saturday on the river now. Saturday is not a great day to fish, but through the week and on Sundays it's perfect. The canoe hatch will be heavy on Saturdays until September.
“Be safe wading the river is very slick; but, hey, it’s hot out and the river is cold!”
(updated 6-15-2023) 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. Canoe season is here, so watch for those, especially on Saturdays. 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 slightly falling at 7.80 feet (flood stage is 15.0 feet). The Newport stage is falling at 7.83 feet (flood stage is 26 feet). The stage at Augusta dropping at 19.39 feet, below flood stage of 26.00 feet.
No fishing reports from this area.
Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)
For the real-time water flow at the Emmett Sanders Lock and Dam and Maynard Lock and Dam, as well as the Pine Bluff pool stage level, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 6-15-2023) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Fishing Team had no report this week.
Millwood Lake
For the Army Corps of Engineers’ real-time lake level and outflow report from Millwood Lake Dam, visit the Corps’ Little Rock office website.
(updated 6-15-2023) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said that as of Wednesday, Millwood Lake was near normal conservation pool on a slow rise, and clarity continues to improve in most locations. Up Little River from White Cliffs to Cossatot inflow from Wilton Landing remains more heavily stained. Millwood Lake tailwater elevation was near 226 feet msl and stable with gate discharge at the dam near 780 cfs in Little River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers on 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 linked under Millwood Lake above, 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 with discharge rates and fluctuations high flow conditions in Little River, and anytime high gate discharge conditions exist. Lake elevation and discharge at Millwood Dam can change dramatically in mere hours with thunderstorms and fresh water influx. We expect this week will see a rise of lake pool elevation and gate discharge increase at the dam due to intense thunderstorms all over southwest Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma this week.
Surface temps stable this week, ranging 79-84 degrees around Wilton and Little River this week, depending on location and the time of day. Clarity along Little River stained but improving in many locations, is worse further up Little River with river clarity ranging 10-15 inches visibility depending on location. Clarity of oxbows will vary widely from heavy stain to good clarity, visibility 15-30 inches up to 3 feet visibility in a few locations away from river flow rates have begun settling out, depending on location. Further up Little River near White Cliffs and Wilton Landing has heavier stain. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, gate discharge, rain or thunderstorms.
Mike had these detailed fishing suggestions for the major species:
* Largemouth bass remain fair and are best early and late, ranging 2-3 pounds in 3-8 feet of water on flats near vegetation, and once sun gets above the trees they are pulling out off the flats into 9-10 feet deep creek channels where grass and reeds and fresh lily pad shoots are emerging. Buzzbaits, Heddon Dying Flutters, Cordell Crazy Shads, plastic frogs, Bass Assassin Shads, Bill Lewis Lures StutterSteps and Ken Pops are all working randomly at daylight at various locations. Once the sun gets above the trees, many of the better quality fish are pulling out to the creek's deeper sections, and will respond to a Bill Lewis SB-57 Square Bill, Echo 1.75 Crankbaits and 10-inch Power Worms or a Brush Hog. 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. Flats next to deep creeks and secondary points with any fresh grass growth, new lily pad blooms and vegetation, will coax an ambush bite on a BLL SB-57 or Echo 1.75 Square Bill after the topwater bite subsides on Buzzbaits, near late morning and noon. Best colors of 10- to 12-inch Power Worms have been Blue Fleck and Black Grape, and Brush Hogs in Watermelon Candy.
In the very back of McGuire oxbow, some chunky 2- and 3-pound bass were the most aggressive early into late morning over the past few weeks, and those fish are being found randomly near deeper creek channels or ditches through the flats. The best bass activity is shifting to early morning on buzzbaits, BLL 4.0 StutterStep in Ghost Shad, Horny Toads in Junebug or Pumpkinseed, and Spit'n Images 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 3-pound class. The best water clarity and reaction from chunky largemouth bass has left the river, and moved to the back of the oxbows like McGuire, Clear Lake and Horseshoe Lake where the clarity is somewhat better, away from the current of Little River. Further up above McGuire in Little River, near Cemetery Slough and Black's Branch, several nice largemouths around 3- to 5-pounds were caught near new bream beds on a custom-painted, bream-colored, Little John Crankbait and BLL MR-6 Cranks in Bluegill, Tennessee Shad and Millwood Magic colors.
Senkos and floating trick worms like the Zoom Trick Worm, Barlow's Salty Rat Tails and the Yum Dingers are still getting reactions wacky-rigged. South African Special, Junebug/Red, Blackberry, Watermelon seed or Merthiolate colors have been randomly working in the back of McGuire oxbow and Horseshoe Lake oxbows Best reaction colors on Bass Assassin Shads have been Pumpkinseed, Salt and Pepper Silver Phantom and Chico's Red Ear; those were getting bit the last couple weeks near cypress trees and fresh vegetation. Yum Christie Critters in black/blue continue working for shallow bass inside grass and vegetation near stumps 1-3 feet of depth.
* The white bass have remained elusive this week. Broken schools were staged along primary and secondary points extending into Little River last week, but we have not seen any white bass this week.
* Crappie continue biting very well near Saratoga, Millwood State Park and Bee Lake this week and are biting best using jigs tipped with minnows in 11-15 feet of depth in planted brush piles up to 2.25 pounds.
* For past several weeks, folks have been telling us about catching bream on beds near Cemetery Slough and Black's Creek above McGuire oxbow along Little River. Best baits reported to us have been crickets and red worms fished in 2-5 feet of depth. Several nice largemouths were caught near those bream beds on a Bill Lewis SB-57 Square Bill Crankbait in Bream color and custom-painted Little John Crankbaits.
* High fin blue catfish and channel cats were slow this week, according to folks we spoke with along Little River who were catfishing Monday.
Lake Columbia
No reports.
Lake Erling
(updated 6-15-2023) Lake Erling Guide Service (870-904-8546) is closed until July 1 for vacation, but the store on Lake Erling is open daily, 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. weekdays, 9 p.m. on weekends. Good numbers and size of fish are being caught there this week, though, based on anglers posting on their Facebook pages. Also check out Friends of Lake Erling on Facebook for more information and photos, too.
Lake Greeson Tailwater
For the most updated Narrows Dam generation schedule from SWEPCO, click here.
Lake Greeson
For the most updated lake level at Lake Greeson, click here.
No reports.
DeGray Lake
For the most updated lake level at DeGray Lake, click here.
(updated 6-15-2023 John Duncan of YoYo Guide Service at Iron Mountain Marina says DeGray’s water temperature has reached 85.4 degrees before the rain hit this week. It is now in the low 80s. The weeds that the AGFC are reinjecting into the lake are taking off in some places, like Ozane. There is a wall of weeds out to 18 feet.
The water is clear and there is little trash. Bream have been killing it, but several bait locations in the area are out of crickets, so come prepared. The full moon bedding is past for this month, but there are still reports of good catches. Use your side-imaging to find the beds and go after them with a drop-shot or slip-bobbers.
White bass are definitely on the move. We’ve seen surfacing fish from Point Cedar to Brushy. We just need calm mornings to succeed. Topwaters like a Whopper Plopper, Devil’s Horse or Zara Spook Jr. in shad color are recommended.
Crappie are still in the brush piles. Find the ones out of the thermocline. Fish close to the top of piles. That applies whether you are using minnows or jigs.
“Let’s get going before it gets too hot,” he says.
White Oak Lake Area
No reports.
NOTICE: AGFC employees and contractors will be conducting herbicide applications to Lake Atkins and to the Cabin Creek arm of Lake Dardanelle June 5-9. Contractors will complete the application of the EPA-approved aquatic herbicides by June 9. The treatment causes no harm to wildlife, people or aquatic life, but water irrigated from the lake can harm gardens, flowerbeds and lawns if used on neighboring lands. By federal law these herbicides have up to a 120-day irrigation restriction after application. The AGFC asks adjacent landowners to not irrigate for lawns or gardens with water from these lakes until October. Multiple applications per year are necessary for effective control of alligatorweed, and being unable to irrigate during this time is another unfortunate effect of this nonnative invasive aquatic plant species. With controlling it, alligatorweed can infest lakes, restricting access to boathouses, boat ramps and fishign locations, and choke out native vegetation and fish populations. For more information, call the AGFC Fisheries Office in Russellville at 833-356-0879.
Lake Atkins
(updated 6-1-2023) Donald Ramirez at Lucky Landing (479-264-0851) said the AGFC was fertilizing the lake again this week. He had no reports from this week. Last week, black bass were being caught on the lower end of the lake. Anglers were using all kinds of spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and Whopper Plopper. The bass were still bedding up in the cove at that area. Also, folks were catching fish in the bream beds. Bream were spawning. Redworms and nightcrawlers are the best baits.
Crappie were in the brushpiles. Anglers were catching a few, not many, but the catches were around 13- to 14-inches. Crappie minnows were the go-to now.
Some catfish were being caught on cut shad, bass minnows, black salties or goldfish baited to jugs, limb lines and yo-yos.
The lake clarity was clearing from the fertilization of a few weeks ago. Water temperature is 74 degrees and water was at a normal level.
Lake Catherine Tailwater (Below Carpenter Dam)
|For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro
(updated 6-15-2023) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam is 57 degrees with slightly stained conditions in the tailrace. The tailrace has stable conditions despite storms moving in and out of the area this week, the stable water enables the public to fish and boat safely on Lake Catherine. Big numbers of fish had relocated downstream due to the flooding that ruined over three months of the trout season but have migrated upstream to feed and establish territory in the nutrient-rich tailrace. Limited generation has caused waters downstream to heat up quickly and forced trout to move upstream to the dam, where cooler temperatures are present. Fishing below a hydroelectric dam poses many problems dictated by Mother Nature for boaters and anglers. The rainbow trout bite has been painfully slow, but fish have been caught – quality being the main attraction now instead of numbers. Entergy has generated below Carpenter Dam for two hours each day since Friday, May 26, and continuing this flow pattern through Friday, June 16. This schedule will allow a few hours each day to bypass fishing in the heavy flows and effectively target the many fish species now present in the tailrace. The following techniques will give anglers a chance at catching numbers of rainbow trout, walleye, crappie and white bass that have received little fishing pressure this season.
Fly-fishermen 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, 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 PowerBaits 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 fishermen can use waxworms or mealworms fished just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater, or earthworms and nightcrawlers in the same manner, to target larger trout.
The walleye spawn has ended, but many fish will remain in 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 complete, but these fish can still be caught with live minnows and jigs fished in current breaks around sandbars and rock structure as they remain in the tailrace to feed before migrating downstream to the main body of the lake. Crappie shy away from heavy current and thrive in protected areas out of the main flow. White bass are migrating into the area in huge numbers to spawn and their presence rounds out a multispecies opportunity for angling. These bass can be caught casting 1/16- and ⅛- ounce jigs around rock structure, with the best results occurring while the turbines are running.
Bream are present in big numbers preparing to spawn, or having spawned during the last full moon and still around beds, and are being caught on nightcrawlers and redworms fished under a bobber or a few feet off the bottom around rock structure.
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
For the most up-to-date flow and state levels from Dardanelle Lock and Dam visit the Army Corps of Engineers website.
(updated 6-15-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said in the early morning anglers have been catching bass on frogs and buzzbaits in the Illinois Bayou area and also in the Spadra area. After the morning bite subsides, people are flipping reeds with a green pumpkin or black/blue creature baits. They are also throwing a square-bill crankbait around wood and rocks in a chartreuse/blue back or a chartreuse/black back. Other anglers are fishing offshore brush piles or shell beds with success using deep-diving crankbaits and also a big Texas-rigged worm.
(updated 6-8-2023) Charles Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-647-9945) said water temperature is warming to the mid-80s. Clarity is good in the upper river section, while the lower section is dingy. Bass fishing has been good. Go with topwater baits early; buzzbaits have been working the best. Swimbaits have been working well around vegetation. Crankbaits have been working well off of the points and ledges. Flipping plastics around wood has been working well, also. Crappie have been good around bridge structure, brush and rock dikes. They have been at different depths, anywhere from 5-10 feet. Monkey Milk is still working well. Stripers and white bass are holding around current. Spoons, Rat-L-Traps and white hair jigs been working well. Bream have moved off of the flats for the most part. Look for the Mayflies and they won't be far away. Channel cats are still good in the creeks on worms and crickets. Flatheads have been good around jetties with live perch. Blue cats have been good in the deeper holes on cut bait.
Lake Hamilton
(updated 6-8-2023) Fish ’N Stuff (501-834-5733) in Sherwood said the black bass are biting a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Senko, a green pumpking shaky head, and a PB&J finesse jig.
Lake Nimrod
As of noon Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 1.2 feet high at 345.44 feet msl (normal pool: 345.00 feet msl; top flood elevation is 373.0 feet msl).
(updated 6-15-2023) 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.
(updated 6-1-2023) Sheila Ferrebee, the new owner of Carter Cove Bait Shop and More (479-272-4025), formerly Andrews, says crappie, bream and catfish all are biting well. Some of the crappie are in the 2-pound range, and two cats that were pulled from the lake this week “were the biggest I’ve seen,” she said. “We’ve been going through crickets like crazy for the bream and the crappie.” Black bass are biting “pretty good” on jigs and minnows. Crappie are also biting minnows and white jigs.
Sheila, who moved from California to take over the business, says Carter Cove offers breakfast and lunch, as well as pizza for now at dinner, “and eventually we’ll get there” for adding to the menu. They have a Facebook page and the email address is cartercovebaitnmore@gmail.com.
Lake Ouachita
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at Blakely Dam was 576.34 feet msl (full pool: 578.00 feet msl).
(updated 6-8-2023) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said the crappie are slowly starting to move out and deeper. “Most of our catches lately have been on brush fished 12-14 feet deep. And, as usual, the bream are everywhere. I see a lot of bass and catfish being caught. Water temperature is in the low 80s already and the bite is done by mid-morning.”
(updated 6-15-2023) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) said black bass are good. Drop-shot for some spotted bass action near brush in the 18-22 feet range. Topwater baits are still working in multiple applications; shallow frog fishing or deeper, open water Spook/Boy Howdy fishing.
Jigs and bottom bouncers tipped with night crawlers are working for walleye. Try main river/lake channel points for these fish, near brush, in the 18-22 feet range. Stripers are good. These fish are being caught in the central and eastern portions of the lake and can be caught on live bait, trolling crankbaits and Alabama rigs. Or, try throwing a topwater C-10 Redfin early and late. Bream are excellent. Try a cricket or worm near brush in the 8-20 depth range for a quality bite. Crappie are still good and being caught on small jigs or minnows. Try brush and structure 20-25 feet deep. Catfish are very good on rod and reel with crawlers or stink bait. Jugs and trotlines with live or cut bait are working well, too.
Water temperature is ranging 80-84 degrees and the clarity is clearing. Lake level Thursday morning was 576.30 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information.
Blue Mountain Lake
As of Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 386.89 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 dropping at 17.62 (flood stage is 26.00 feet).
Cook’s Lake
(updated 6-15-2023) AGFC staff attending a conference at Cook’s Lake last week fished the lake in various approaches this week. The lake has a healthy variety of fish to be caught, including active bream, catfish and crappie. Flatheads, blue catfish and channel cats were caught on limblines and trotlines. A decent-sized largemouth bass or two were hooked on rod-and-reel with worms, and white bass were also being caught. Lots of crayfish are notably active as well as the water drops out of the woods.
The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Nature Center (501-404-2321) says that the water continues to fall out of Cook’s Lake, making access now easy. Only a few anglers have fished the lake this season. Bass anglers should have the most luck flipping black and red tubes or green pumpkin jigs to cypress trees. For bream, try fishing crickets or redworms near cypress trees or vines on the bluff banks. Crappie anglers should try tight-lining jigs or minnows near cypress trees or in the channel using forward-facing sonar.
Cook’s Lake is a 2.5-mile-long oxbow off of the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas County. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to being used only for education purposes and youth and mobility-impaired fishing. The scenic lake is full of slab crappie, giant bluegills, largemouth bass, and catfish of all species. Cook’s Lake will be open to fishing during normal business hours Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., water level pending. Cook’s Lake is open to fishing for youths under 16 or mobility-impaired anglers, and up to two helpers (who may also fish). Fish from the 140-foot mobility-impaired accessible dock or launch a boat. Please call ahead at least a day in advance to register to fish. Before launching, please check in at the Nature Center classroom and report back before leaving. For information or unscheduled closures, please call the center at 501-404-2321.
Bear Creek Lake/Storm Creek Lake
(updated 6-15-2023) Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040) had no new reports.
Note: msl is mean sea level; cfs is cubic feet per second.