News Taffy

Central Arkansas

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

Bates Field and Stream ( 501-470-1846 ) said the lake is low and stained. Bream are excellent on red worms and crickets. Bass are good with spinners and plastic worms. Catfish are excellent with worms and bream. No report on crappie.

Little Red River Lindseys Resort ( 501-302-3139 )said the water is clear and normal; one generator is running in the afternoon. Trout are excellent; try wax worms, Power Bait and corn. For fly anglers, go with dry flies.

Greers Ferry Lake As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 458.4 feet msl (normal conservation pool 461 msl).

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level at Greers Ferry Lake is falling; surface temperature is 77-81 degrees. Black bass are biting pretty good out on the drops and some shallow fish are eating top-water baits and buzz baits, as well as swim baits. For the drop fish, use Texas-rigged worms, the Arkansas Claw and jigs. For fish in between, use shaky head rigs. Crappie are eating on and off all day on jigs tipped with minnows. The walleye bite is slowly getting better, been tough catching them this year; try night crawlers in 15-40 feet of water. Hybrids and white bass are eating well off and on all day and night. The bream action continues to be good shallow and out to 27 feet of water for the bigger fish. Catfishing is excellent on a variety of baits.

Cody S. Smith of www.fishgreersferry.com said the lake is holding pretty steady about 3 feet below normal pool and 4 feet below seasonal pool, while 12 feet below the five-year average pool for this time of year. The reservoir is continuing to fish extremely well. Stable weather is always a plus here; however, during the last week we have seen mixed weather and clouds, which have seemed to scatter the fish a bit. With this cloud cover we have seen an awesome top-water bite for largemouth and Kentucky bass that can last all day. With higher skies and clearing weather, look for our game fish to really put their nose on some sort of structure and/or cover like sharp drops in the 20-foot range out to 40 and planted brush in the 15- to 35-foot range. White bass and hybrids are surfacing somewhere everyday on the reservoir but my other game fish bite has been good enough not to chase the surfacing temperate bass. I look for the schoolers to really start getting active for longer periods over the coming weeks, and the early morning bite should really get good.

Greers Ferry Tailwater Just Fishing Guides said all the tailwaters are fishing well. Plenty of low water has wade fishers rejoicing. Midges, scuds, sow bugs, mayflies and caddis feeding fish are all being encountered in different areas and different times over the course of a day. Throw in hoppers, beetles and ant patterns and the variety of fishing will keep all fly-fishers on their toes! Observation is the key.

Harris Brake Lake

Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745 ) said the lake is stained and low. Bream are good with worms and crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are good with spinners and plastic worms. White bass are hitting silver spoons. Catfish are fair with a variety of bait. Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie have been biting No. 6 and 8 minnows, Slab SlayR and StrollR in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse shad and bone white, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Catfish have been good; theyre taking minnows, worms and goldfish. Bass are fair on tequila sunrise and dark-colored worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes. Bream are biting great on red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers.

Lake Overcup

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is about normal and clear. Crappie are in deep water, about 15 feet; try fishing 8-10 feet deep. They are fair on pumpkin/chartreuse and chartreuse jigs, Tennessee shad Stingers and No. 6 minnows. Bream are good on crickets and red worms. Bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait and minnows.

Whiskers Sporting Goods ( 501-889-2011 ) said crappie are biting well on No. 6 minnows, Baby Shad, StrollR and Slab SlayR in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white Baby Shad, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Bream are biting great on night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are hitting tequila sunrise and dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Brewer Lake Overcup Landing ( 501-354-9007 ) said bream are good around the edges on crickets and wax worms. Crappie are hitting tube jigs and No. 4 minnows around brushpiles. Bass are fair on plastics and catfish are fair on cut shad and night crawlers. Lake Cargile Overcup Landing( 501-354-9007 ) had no report this week. Lake Maumelle Jolly Rogers Marina reports the water level on the lake is 15 inches below the spillway. Black bass are good, 15-18 feet deep. Blacks are hitting spinner baits early in the day, then go to deeper lures such as pig and jigs and Carolina rigs. Early do the drop-off and during the day, deep structure. Kentucky bass are good. Lots of Kentucky bass are being caught on Rooster Tails, jigheads and worms 10-18 feet deep. White bass are fair. Theyre being caught toward the restricted area and north shore on Rooster Tails, trolling with lures 15 feet deep and jigging with CC spoons. Crappie are excellent. They are 14-18 feet deep on the edges of the channels, and are hitting small jigs and colored grubs and small minnows. Bream are excellent. Theyre hitting worms and crickets from 10-15 feet deep. Bream are really big this year. Catfish are excellent on trotlines with prepared bait and large minnows and bream. They are 10-13 feet deep; any deeper and the live bait dies quickly. First place at the Tuesday black bass tournament was 8.04 pounds, followed by 7.60 and 7.02.

Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop ( 501-758-4958 ) said bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are good with minnows over brushpiles. Bass are fair on deep-diving crankbaits near brush. Catfish are excellent with slicks and shad on trotlines.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville( 501-889-2011 ) said crappie are good in coves and brush piles on Baby Shad and Slab SlayR in red/chartreuse, bone white and pearl, and orange/chartreuse, as well as No. 6 minnows and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. White bass are biting in the river channel on Rooster Tails in white or salt and pepper. Bream are great on night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are hitting tequila sunrise and other dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Lake Valencia Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop ( 501-758-4958 ) said catfish are good with worms, chicken hearts and chicken liver. No reports on other species.

Sunset Lake Turbyfills Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the lake is clear and normal. Catfish are going for chicken liver; no reports on other species.

Saline River Access in Benton Turbyfills Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is low. Bream are good on crickets. Crappie are poor. Bass are good; try minnows and live bait. Catfish have been poor.

Arkansas River at Morrilton

Charleys Hidden Harbor at Opello said white bass are schooling and chasing shad early at the new jetty. Fish from daylight to 9 a.m. Use Zara Spooks when fish are hitting shad on top. Then go to night crawlers and CC spoons on jetty tips when they go deeper. Kentucky bass have been good; use Fat Raps. Largemouths are good in and around grass. Try Jitter Bugs early then go to chatter baits. Bream are good on crickets over sandbars. Catfish are fair; use whole shad late at night.

Arkansas River (Maumelle Pool)

Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop ( 501-758-4958 ) had this report from Little Maumelle River and Maumelle River: Bream are good with crickets and red worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Bass are good in the morning on top-waters and in the evening on jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, top-water plugs and creature baits. Catfish are good with slicks, night crawlers and chicken hearts. Main River Channel: Bream and crappie are poor. Bass are good; try black/red Flukes, Gitzits flipping creature baits and using black buzz baits early and late in the day. Catfish are good with skipjack and slicks in the current. Palarm Creek: Catfish are excellent with skipjacks and slicks. No report on other species.

Arkansas River (Little Rock Pool)

Vince Miller from Fish N Stuff said the river is muddy and low. Bream are good shallow with crickets and worms. Crappie are fair; try minnows. Bass are good with crankbaits and plastic worms on sandbars and jetty tips. Catfish have been good with worms and cut shad.

Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop ( 501-758-4958 ) had this report from Burns Park and the main channel: Crappie are fair, deep on brushpiles with minnows and jigs. Bass are good; try throwing shallow-running crankbaits, jigs and top-water plugs. Catfish are fair with slicks and skipjacks. No report on bream.

Murray Lock and Dam: No report on bream. Crappie and white bass have been fair with jigs and minnows. Sauger are hitting red/chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good with skipjacks, night crawlers and slicks.

McSwain Sports Center ( 501-945-2471 ) reports bass fishing has been good on Rapalas, and catfish are good with cut bait.

Clear Lake McSwain Sports Center ( 501-945-2471 ) said bream fishing is good with crickets and wax worms. Crappie are good with crickets and wax worms. No report this week on bass or catfish.

Peckerwood Lake Hermans Landing ( 870-241-3731) said the water is clear and low, although stumps are not visible. Bream reports have been poor. Catfish have been good on cut bait and most anything else. No report on bass or crappie.

Lake Pickthorne Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop ( 501-758-4958 ) said bream have been good with worms and crickets. Crappie are poor but channel catfish are reported good with worms and chicken hearts, especially against the levee.

Lake Willastein Hatchet Jacks Sport Shop ( 501-758-4958 ) said bream are good in deep water with wax worms and crickets. Crappie are fair in brushpiles with jigs and minnows. Bass are good; try creature baits and weedless frogs in grass. Catfish are reported good with night crawlers, liver and chicken hearts.

North Arkansas

White River

Sportsmans White River Resort ( 870-453-2424 ) said the water is clear and low. Trout fishing is excellent, especially with PowerBait pink Trout Worms. For wading and boating, lures and spinners are working. Try small spinners, Little Cleos and buoyant spoons, as well as small Rapalas and jig. For fly anglers, try Zebra Midges, Copper Johns, sowbugs and grasshoppers.

Jim Brentlinger at Lingerhad this report for Buffalo City to Reds Landing: The river has been as low as most have ever seen it. That presents some challenges but also offers opportunities. Be innovative; make one-way trips and shuttle your vehicle accordingly. Take your time and fish the obvious holes that are created by the drastically low water. The fish will congregate in these holes and success will be yours. Light jigs, PowerBaits and your favorite spinner will work very well. Hire a guide who is familiar with the situation and enjoy the outcome.

Triangle Sports ( 870-793-7122 ) Buffalo River Just Fishing Guides said as of Wednesday, the river was low and getting lower. Ponca was very low at 1.5 feet, Pruitt was very low at 3.4 feet, Tyler Bend was low at 3.5 feet and Buffalo Point was low at 2.8 feet. Water temperature was averaging in the upper 70s. The river level is extremely low for floating; the water is clear. Floating is still decent below Buffalo Point; not too much dragging.

Crooked Creek Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelleys Slab was reading 10 feet Wednesday, a good level for wade fishing..

Bull Shoals Lake As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 653.9 feet msl (normal conservation pool 654 msl).

Mike Worleys Guide Service said the water temperature is 80 degrees. Walleye are 20-35 feet deep and biting well on jigging spoons, crankbaits and night crawlers fished on bottom bouncers. Bass are biting on night crawlers, crayfish, crankbaits and Carolina-rigged plastics like lizards and centipedes. There is also an early morning deep-water trolling bite in the 25- to 35-foot range out over 90-110 feet of water for walleyes on stick baits trolled on lead-core line. Bluegills are biting on crickets and worms in shallow water in coves and pockets.

Bull Shoals Tailwater Just Fishing Guides said all the tailwaters are fishing well. Plenty of low water has wade fishers rejoicing. Midges, scuds, sow bugs, mayflies and caddis feeding fish are all being encountered in different areas and different times over the course of a day. Throw in hoppers, beetles and ant patterns and the variety of fishing will keep all fly-fishers on their toes! Observation is the key. .

Lake Norfork As of Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 550.3 feet msl (normal conservation pool: September-April 552 msl, April-September 554 msl). STR OutfittersTom Reynolds said the striper bite has been great recently. The stripers have started their summer pattern holding in 20-50 feet of water suspended between 20-30 feet. Sunday was a slow day but several other people caught their limits. The evening bite was strong over the weekend. We caught 12 stripers, which included a 20-pounder and a 21-pounder, which was released. The fish were caught in 32-38 feet of water on flats; they moved up on the flats to feed as the sun set.

Hummingbird Hideaway Resort

Lou Gabric said Norfork Lake fishing is in a transition period with fish going from their spring pattern to their summer pattern. This basically means fish are moving to deeper, cooler water. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and walleye have moved out to 20- to 28-foot depths and the striped bass have moved even deeper. This doesnt mean fishing is harder; it just means you need to change your fishing tactics. In fact, warm-weather fishing is often easier because some species start to school. The striped bass bite has started to get very good. I am finding large schools of fish in 30-50 feet of water and, on occasion, they are suspended in 100+ feet of water. I have been using live shad, but large shiners will also work. I am finding stripers along bluff lines close to a point. Concentrate on main lake points; big flats are holding fish, too. They are 35-40 feet down in 35 to 50+ feet of water. Smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass are in the 20- to 28-foot range of water, typically hugging the bottom. I have caught fish on the banks throwing a Wiggle Wart, but all the fish I have caught this way have been small. The bigger bass have moved out to deeper water. I am finding bass in similar locations as the stripers, but closer to the shore. Main lake points are still the best and, if they have brush on them, even better. Jig and pigs, swimming minnows, grubs and other plastics are good choices at this time; work back to the boat slowly along the bottom. Of course, if you like using live bait, your numbers of fish caught should increase. Some top-water action is still occurring early in the mornings. Walleye are in the same locations as the bass: main lake points. Slow trolling and drifting a night crawler harness are producing nice fish.

Guide Steve Olomon said the lake is still a foot below normal and the water temp is in the upper 70s. Look for stripers and hybrids down around 30 feet and get your bait down to them. Look in coves, out off points and on flats. Bass are hitting top-water baits early on points, and some are coming up in channel swings in the creeks. After the top-water is over, throw a jig or deep-diving crankbait or try a drop-shot with a small 4-inch worm. I had another guide tell me earlier in the week a few hybrids were coming up but they went down as fast as they came up. If you just happened to be close enough, you would get one before it was over.

Campground News: Jordan Campground on Norfork Lake is open April 1-Oct. 1 and managed by Jordan Marina. Formerly run by the Army Corps of Engineers, Jordan Campground is a favorite of families camping on the south end of Norfork Lake and is the gateway to Sand Island and Jordan area beaches. This area also is a favorite of scuba divers, with 30 dive sites within 2 miles of the campground. Jordan Campground has 41 RV and tent sites; sites with 50-amp service and 30-amp service are available for $20 per night. The campground, adjacent to Jordan Marina, also features a swimming beach, picnic pavilion, boat launch and two restrooms. For more information, call (870) 499-7223 or Jordan Marina at (870) 499-7348 .

Norfork Tailwater Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com ( 901-832-1903 ) Just Fishing Guides said all the tailwaters are fishing well. Plenty of low water has wade fishers rejoicing. Midges, scuds, sow bugs, mayflies and caddis feeding fish are all being encountered in different areas and different times over the course of a day. Throw in hoppers, beetles and ant patterns and the variety of fishing will keep all fly-fishers on their toes! Observation is the key.

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 1,117.8 feet msl (normal conservation pool 1,120 msl).

Baileys Beaver Lake Guide Service ( 479-366-8664 ) said striper fishing is good. Grab your head lamps; the night bite is on! This is my favorite time of year; the big fish are on the feed big time! Beaver lake stripers are still scattered and can be caught from Prairie Creek to the dam. Beaver lake striper fishing will be excellent with stripers taken on live shad fished on down lines and lightly weighted balloon lines trolled 50-100 feet back and 20-35 feet deep at speeds from 0.5-3 mph. Downriggers are also producing with artificials. Stripers will be in areas holding bait near the main channel. You may have to hit several spots to get your fish. Live shad as always on Beaver Lake when fishing for trophy stripers is the go-to approach. Stripers are hitting shad in the 4- to 12-inch range. Water surface temperatures are in the high 70s. Indian Creek is a hot spot. Check the back of the creek past the power line. Dry Creek is producing stripers. Also fish the mouth of this arm. Point 5 also is hot. Check Docs Cabin and the island between points 5 and 6; also the channel bend near the shallow gravel bar on the opposite bank. Other hot spots are Copper Mine, Ventris and Prairie Creek. Walleye are making their way back toward the big water. Fish the clear water for best results. Most walleye are about 8-15 feet deep; fish are being taken off area flats near the channel. Areas around the islands at Prairie Creek and near points 9, 8 and 7 have all been producing walleye. Flat-line troll with Hot N Tots, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripsticks in natural blue or black/back combinations or chartreuse/orange and clown colors. Jigging spoons around brush and rock piles are also producing. .

Jason Piper JTs Crappie Guide Service ( 479-640-3980 ) said bass can be caught early and late in the day by flipping a 4-inch tube or a Shaky Head-rigged Finesse Worm along shaded, sloping banks with chunk rock. Top-water baits such as buzz baits and Zara Spooks have been effective. At night, black and blue Hula Grubs, Texas-rigged, 6-inch, dark-colored lizards or Texas-rigged 8-inch black worms have worked well fished along gravel shore. Crappie fishing has been good. Best fishing has been early in the day in shady locations such as under docks and along bluff lines. Look for brush piles or timber in 20-35 feet of water along bluff lines and in the small pockets adjacent to the bluffs. Fish a black/chartreuse, yellow/white, white/chartreuse or pearl/gray tube bait on a sixteenth-ounce jighead just off the bottom to the surface until fish are located. At night, fish live minnows 10-20 feet deep under lights along bluff lines just off the channel. Horseshoe Bend, Eden Bluff, Hickory Creek and Monte Ne have all been good. White Bass have been schooling late in the day on main lake flats. Alabama-rigged 3-inch Curly Tail grubs and a Kastmaster spoon thrown into the schooling fish have been effective. Night fishing continues to be good under lights 10-20 feet deep along bluff lines and the Arkansas Highway 12 bridge close to the main channel. Horseshoe Bend, Rocky Branch, Clifty and Eden Bluff have all been good night spots. Catfish have been biting well at night from shore using liver or worms. Hickory Creek, Monte Ne, Arkansas Highway 12 bridge and U.S. Highway 412 bridge have all been good.

Southtown Sporting Goods ( 479-443-7148 ) said the lake is clear and normal. Bream have been good with crickets and worms. Crappie are good at night under lights; try minnows, live shad or trolling Hot N Tots. Bass have been fair on spinners, especially at night, top-water plugs and 8- to 10-inch worms. Also try shaky head, Carolina and drop-shot rigs with small plastic worms in deep water, crankbaits, and deep-running Norman D22 and Strike Kings 6XD. Catfish are reported good with goldfish or live sunfish on trotlines, limblines and jugs. Beaver Tailwater Just Fishing Guides said all the tailwaters are fishing well. Plenty of low water has wade fishers rejoicing. Midges, scuds, sow bugs, mayflies and caddis feeding fish are all being encountered in different areas and different times over the course of a day. Throw in hoppers, beetles and ant patterns and the variety of fishing will keep all fly-fishers on their toes! Observation is the key.

Lake Elmdale Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said the water level is down about a foot and a half from normal, cut clarity remains good in such low water. Vegetation in the coves seems to be less than a few weeks ago, making it easier to top-water fish the shallows, the best being the Brush Creek end of the lake. Use top-water baits like chuggers, poppers, frogs or buzz baits. Keep in mind big bass are smart so throw something you think the bass hasnt been seeing every day. Passing fronts like weve had tend to push bass off into deeper water. Use deep-running crank baits, 12- to 14-foot big-lipped dudes. Fish the points and drop-offs. Stay back from the shoreline a ways on those after the storm days. With the spawn most likely over for crappie, theyve moved off normal concentrated areas, and seem to be somewhat scattered. Try trolling crankers. Minnows have worked well but you may have to experiment with the depth. They like 12 ft. Tube jigs in red/chartreuse work good but after dark, try blue/black or black/chartreuse for the best results. Nights have been working better. Somewhere on this lake are lots of redear. Finding them is the trick. Red worms fished on bottom in 5-6 feet of water work well. Use a bobber if you like but stay near the bottom. Crickets are the best choice of the spawning redear, but you can load the boat with bluegill, too, if you find the right spot. Red worms are also a favorite for bluegill. Fish 14-18 inches deep with or without bobber. Catfish usually spawn about June 18. They feed on the bottom, most of the time, but live perch on limb lines along Harmons Bluff at various depths produced some flatheads last year over 20 pounds. Some blues in the 6-pound range were caught, too. Catfish will bite almost any food source available on a given night. If crickets bug you, a worm makes you squirm and liver makes you quiver, you may just have to hold your nose and use some stink bait! Good luck and well see you on the lake.

Kings River Just Fishing Guides said the river gauge near Grandview was reading 2.6 feet and 19 cfs Wednesday. This is still floatable but you will be dragging. Above the U.S. Highway 62 bridge you will be doing more dragging. We fished 10 days ago and did very well. The first day was from 62 bridge to Grandview, a float of about 5 miles. Scott was the fly-fisherman with me and is a very good caster. He caught eight species of fish on flies, 25-30 bass and an unreal amount of sunfish. At times they wouldnt stay off the fly. The second day was with Scott and his 8-year-old Joshua. We floated from 7 Oaks to 62 and I use that term very loosely. This was Joshuas first attempt at smallmouth. By the end of the trip, he had 20 smallmouth and a couple of rock bass. I think we now have a convert to smallmouth. The water was much clearer above the bridge than below, so we got to do a lot of sight casting to fish. The best flies were popping bugs specifically a white Bogle Bug, Clousers and Tequeely streamers. Josh caught all of his fish with a spinning rod and a 4-inch Zoom lizard in watermelon red. Scott did boat his ninth species, a rock bass.

Lake Fayetteville

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock ( 479-444-3476 ) said bream fishing is good with crickets or worms. Crappie are fair on Crappie Candy, minnows and jigs; white bass are going for these, too. Bass are excellent with spinners and purple plastic worms. Catfish are good with worms, cut bait, night crawlers and chicken liver. Lake Sequoyah Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock ( 479-444-3475 ) said the lake was stained and 2 inches low; waters not breaking over dam. Bream are good with worms and crickets. Crappie are fair 2-6 feet deep on minnows and jigs. Bass are good with spinners and top-water plugs. Catfish are excellent with chicken liver, bluegill, minnows, shad and any live bait. Theyve been caught from 5-40 pounds. 

Northeast Arkansas

Crown Lake

Boxhound Marina ( 870-670-4496 ) reports the lake is clear and a foot low. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Bass are good with a variety of lures. Catfish have been fair; try worms and chicken liver. No report on crappie.

Lake Frierson

Lake Frierson State Parksaid the water is low and murky. Catfish have been good with stink bait and night crawlers. No reports on other species.

Spring River

Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are at 314 cfs at the spring and water clarity is clear. The river is low and clear. The fishing this week has been excellent. We are mainly using guppies, and black and olive woolly buggers. Swinging the fly and stripping it across stream are the go-to methods. With the hotter temperatures, trout have been holding in the fast water more. Green and white Trout Magnets have been the hot colors for this week. They have been catching walleye on night crawlers. Take a day off and get out and enjoy the Spring River.

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation at 259.5 feet msl (normal conservation pool 259.2 msl).

Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said surface temperatures range from 79-87 degrees. Discharge rate as of Monday with one gate open at 0.4 feet, a total discharge of 170 cfs. The tailwater level as of Monday was 224.07 msl. Clarity and visibility as of Monday on main lake structure worsened over the last week with high wind. Clarity is stained somewhat in the river; currently ranging 8-10 inches in the river. The oxbows are better, with some stain, ranging 15-20 inches. The best largemouth bass bite in the last week continues to be around dawn through mid-morning hours, then again a couple hours prior to dusk. Numerous techniques are catching bass, including buzz baits, soft-plastic Bass Assassin shad jerk baits, and soft-plastic frogs and toads are working around grass and lily pads. Creature and hog baits like Brush Hogs, Pit Bosses, Wooly Bugs, big, bulky 10-worms, spinner baits and jigs around stumps, grass, new lily pad growth and wood laydowns in the oxbows, away from river current, are sporadically taking 14- to 16-inch largemouths. For white bass, try Rat-L-Traps and Bomber crankbaits for aggressive white bass roaming the oxbows in large broken schools and nice largemouth bass chasing shad. Whites are scattered along Little River and the oxbows in loose and broken schools, and can be found by trolling crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in the Little River and the oxbows. Several broken schools were busting shad at the surface in McGuire and Horseshoe oxbow lakes up Little River over the last few weeks. Daylight is the best time for these broken schooling fish. Crappie have moved back out over planted brush piles and can be located with electronics in 15- to 18-foot depths on jigs and grubs on light wire jigheads in brushpiles and standing timber. Very large longnose gar (in excess of 20-30 pounds) continue to be very shallow and are making fine opportunities for bowfishermen. Catfish are fair this week, mainly due to reduced current in Little River. Trotlines, yo-yos and tight lines, in any remaining current and break lines in the outer bends of Little River, are best bets. Blues and channel cats were biting best on cut bait, shad and cottonseed cake in 15-20 feet of Little River on the outer break lines in any remaining current or on yo-yos tied along the Little River or hung from cypress tree limbs in 8-10 feet of the oxbows.

Lake Greeson As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 546.2 feet msl (Flood pool 548 msl).

Lakeside Grocery and Bait ( 870-398-5304 ) said the lake is low and clear in deep water but murky in shallow areas. Surface temperature is 85 degrees. Bream have been good on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows in 20-25 feet of water. Bass are fair early and late in the day on worms, jigs and top-water baits around rocky points. Catfish are good; try chicken liver. On trotlines, try bream in about 10 feet of water. Walleye are good on jigs and crankbaits in deeper water. For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit Jerry Blakes website, www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.

Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River) Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.

DeGray Lake As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 404.6 feet msl (flood pool 408 msl).

The surface water temperature is in the low 80s and the lake is clear throughout. Bass fishing is fair at best with very few catches reported. A few fish are being taken on top-water lures early in the morning off main lake points where there are lots of shad. Try a Zara Spook, Fluke, Sammy or 4-inch swim bait. If the fish are schooling, the Alabama rig with Swimming Flukes is hard to beat. Most any main lake point between Caddo Drive and Iron Mountain will produce bass; you just have to find the bait and the bass will be close by. Later in the day, fish the deep side of points with a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard from 10 feet down to 30 feet. Also try a heavy jig with a crawfish-type trailer in a dark color. Be sure there is some rock or wood cover present; in fact, the thicker the cover, the better. Some nice bass also are being taken in the big coves on the south side of the lake by working spinner baits around standing timber. Once again, this is an early morning game. Crappie fishing has really slowed down and fishing now is only fair with the fish scattered around the attractors. Best bet is to use live minnows (rosy reds) on a slip-float rig set to about 15 feet or just above the brush on attractors in 20 to 25 feet of water. If you have to use the fake stuff, try a Tennessee shad 2-inch grub on a sixteenth-ounce jighead and fish the lure very slowly just above the thickest part of the attractor brush. Look for attractors on the main lake between Arlie Moore and Iron Mountain. Also try Brush Creek. Remember summer crappie fishing is an early morning game, which is from before sun up to about 9 a.m. Hybrid fishing is good, with fish scattered from the mouth of Brushy Creek to point marker No. 2 on the south side. Also some decent catches reported along the south side of the state park between Caddo Bend and DeRoche Ridge. Best method is still the five-arm umbrella rig with 3-inch Curly Tail white grubs trolled at 2.5 to 3 mph with the trolling motor. Look for humps and ledges in 30 to 50 feet of water and fish the rig about 100 feet behind the boat at about 15 feet down because the fish are suspended at about 20 feet. Jigging spoons and big in-line spinners are also taking a few fish. The best time and probably the only time for hybrids is early in the morning and the action is pretty much over by 9 a.m. Bream fishing is good on bedding fish. Look for beds in 6-8 feet of water in coves and where there is some cover. Fish a float rig and crickets or red worms. Beds can be most anywhere in the lake, with the lower end better because the water is cleared and sighting is easier. Catfish are good at night on noodles and trotlines. Use Catfish Charlie, blood bait, hot dogs/soap and night crawlers. For bigger cats, use large minnows or small, live bream. Coves on the south side of the lake between points 2 and 6 have been very good.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Nimrod As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 344.7 feet msl (flood pool 373 msl).

Whiskers Sporting Goods ( 501-889-2011 )said crappie are biting around brush piles and the upper Fourche River on No. 6 and 8 minnows, Baby Shad, Slab SlayR and StrollR in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white shad, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Bream are biting great on red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are going for tequila sunrise and dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Lake Bailey (Petit Jean Mountain)

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville ( 501-889-2011 ) said bream are biting great on night crawlers, red worms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Catfish are biting well on worms, minnows and goldfish. Bass are good on dark-colored worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes.

Fourche La Fave River

Whiskers Sporting Goods ( 501-889-2011 ) said the river is stained. Crappie are fair on minnows and, in run-off areas, white/salt and pepper and red/chartreuse Baby Shad, and PowerBait Crappie Nibbles in green or yellow. Catfish are biting stink bait, livers and goldfish in the river. Bass are going for tequila sunrise and dark worms, spinner baits, Rooster Tails and Flukes. Lake Hamilton For a daily fishing report from Darryl Morris, visit Family Fishing Trips.

Lake Hinkle

Bills Bait Shop ( 479-637-7419 ) said the lake is clear and normal. Bream are excellent, mostly on crickets. Crappie are fair; try minnows and jigs. Bass have been good with crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are fair with chicken liver, shiners and goldfish.

Blue Mountain Lake As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 386.7 feet msl (flood pool 419 msl).

Lake Ouachita As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lakes elevation was 575 feet msl (flood pool 578 msl).

Lake Catherine For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro. Shane Goodner, reports the water temperature below Carpenter Dam is 59 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace. Moss growth is heavy around rock structure, making bottom fishing difficult. Rainbow trout fishing has slowed greatly in the last two weeks as numbers of trout by mid-June are diminished by catch rates and predation. This is normal this time of year. The bite is slow so anglers must use patience along with live bait presentations which provide the best chances for success. Wax worms, meal worms, red worms and night crawlers make a tempting meal for finicky rainbows fished either on bottom or under a bobber. Fly-fishermen should time their outings in conjunction with periods of generation for best results. San Juan worms in red or hot pink have taken trout in the 16-inch range, along with egg-pattern flies, which imitate fish eggs. Spin fishermen have caught a few trout on small jigs in white or gray when the turbines were running. Good trout are caught, but very few in number. By the end of July, trout fishing will be over for all practical purposes until the stocking program resumes in Novermber. White bass are below the dam and tend to remain in the tailrace for months after the spawn in April. Live minnows tight-lined in deep pockets of water around the bridge and dam will hook hungry bass that constantly pursue the shad schools. Spinner baits in yellow or black have done well in the current over sandbars and visible rock structure. Walleye are still being caught around the dam on jigs and Carolina rigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers. Striper activity is spotty at best with a few bass being observed below the bridge in the main channel chasing shad. Gizzard or brood shad are the best baits to present to these large predator fish and usually done so with a balloon rig. Heavy lines and rods are recommended as many of these fish are over 25 pounds.

East Arkansas

Bear Creek Lake said campers at the park said bass and bream are good on night crawlers and crickets fished in coves and around logs early in the morning and late in the evening. Catfish are good on trotlines. For bream, fish during the day with dark-colored plastic worms deeper around logs. .

Storm Creek Lake Mississippi River State Park said fisherman at Storm Creek Lake said bream are good on plastic worms and crickets early in the morning and late in the evening. Bass are slow to bite early in the morning; try fishing with top-water lures. Catfish are good on trotlines.

Maddox Bay

Maddox Bay Landing ( 870-462-8317 )said the water is clear and low, although it should rise after rain. Bream are good, especially with crickets and worms. Crappie reports have been fair with minnows and jigs. Bass are good on crankbaits, spinners, plastic worms and buzz baits. No reports on catfish.

Horseshoe Lake

Local angler Clyde Gregory said the water is clear and at normal level, although fishing has been slow. Bream are good in lily pads with worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs near piers. Bass are fair with frogs, especially in lily pads. Catfish are good with yo-yos or limblines with cut bait around cypress trees.