A spinnerbait is probably the most effective lure for locating springtime bass because you can cover so much water with it. You can work it slowly and keep it under the surface around thick cover. Fish are slower to hit a lure in cold water, but the spinnerbait can go right up in the thick stuff and be worked slow enough to get a strike.

Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13):   Headwater – 391.17 feet, Tailwater – 378.92 feet, Flow – 66,919 cubic feet per second

Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12):   Headwater – 371.75 feet, Tailwater – 345.46 feet

Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10):   Headwater – 337.48 feet, Tailwater – 296.17 feet

Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9):   Headwater – 284.95 feet, Tailwater – 277.85 feet, Flow – 95,400 cubic feet per second

Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8):   Headwater – 267.21 feet, Tailwater – 266.55 feet

Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7):   Headwater – 247.74 feet, Tailwater – 231.27 feet, Flow – 190,952 cubic feet per second

Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6):   Headwater – 230.71 feet, Tailwater – 225.84 feet, Flow – 157,308 cubic feet per second

Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4):   Headwater – 195.74 feet, Tailwater – 192.59 feet

Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3):   Headwater – 181.81 feet, Tailwater – 180.40 feet

Mills Dam (Dam 2):   Headwater  – 161.32 feet, Tailwater – 143.57 feet, Flow – 121,241 cubic feet per second

White River Levels:   According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as of Wednesday the White River stages are:

8 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
10.6 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
15.4 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
26.4 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
15.2 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
23.2 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)  

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Little Red River:  Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said fishing this weekend was excellent on crankbaits, Shad Raps, Cleos and Buoyant Spoons with heavy generation. There is currently no fishing or generation due to the recovery of a missing man on the river.

Jed Hollan at the Little Red Fly Shop said the Greers Ferry Power House has been shut down for several days for the saddest of reasons. Search and rescue teams are hard at work trying to recover the body of an individual who drowned near Cow Shoals. When water releases resume, we will be seeing more water in the river than in previous weeks. Recent rain events have raised the lake level to one foot over top power pool. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels are both in a good range. Midges, midges and more midges! If you want to know what is hatching, look out your window and you will probably see these tiny critters flying around. Midges come in numerous colors such as gray, olive, brown, tan or black but they are all quite small. In fact, the word "midge" has become generic for any very small fly pattern. Dry flies that are working include midges (size 22 or smaller in cream or black), Adams (sizes 18-20) and caddis (size 18-20 tan). Subsurface flies that are attracting trout include the lowly but abundant sow bug (sizes 14-16 tan, peacock or light gray), zebra midge (sizes 16-22 red, copper or black), red butt soft hackle emerger (size 14-16), San Juan worm (size 16-18) and woolly bugger (size 10-12 olive or black).

Greers Ferry:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.46 feet MSL.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water is still rising from the rain. Surface temperature is ranging 40 to 47 degrees. The walleye should get fired up as new water brings food in and the muddy water will warm quicker. A few are being caught in the upper reaches of the rivers, but most have backed down. The bass should get better with some males and also a few loner females coming shallow, cruising spawning areas during the heat of the day. Jig-and-pigs fished around the flooded bushes next to ditches and slow-rolled spinnerbaits will work in muddier water. In the clearer water, a jerk bait or Magnum Wiggle Wart will continue to catch some fish as well as a football head jig out deep on points and humps. The crappie fishing slowed from the muddy water but will pick up as the lake clears. Catfishing is good. White bass and hybrids despise off-colored water, and it will be best to find the bait fish in cleaner water to locate some feeding fish.

Shiloh Marina said water conditions are normal. Walleye is fair on minnows.

Harris Brake Lake:  Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is high and a little dingy. Crappie are biting fair on minnows and jigs. Some bass have been caught on crankbaits.

Lake Overcup:  Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said water is murky and high. A few crappie have been caught on white stingers.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water is high. All fishing is fair.

Brewer Lake:  Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said water conditions are murky and high. All fishing is slow.

Lake Maumelle:  Jolly Rogers Marina said the water level is 1.4 feet above the spillway. Back Bass are fair. The recent rain moved the bass into shallow water, where they are biting fairly well on dark jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are fair with some movement to shallow water, but they have been hitting well in 30 feet of water all winter long. The best baits for crappie are jigs and minnows. Many shad are in the west end of the lake, drawing the white bass with them. Normally the white bass start hitting well around Feb. 15, so the next warm days should get them firing.

Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie fishing is fair in 12 to 16 feet of water on minnows. White bass are fair also.

Lake Valencia:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said trout are being caught on nightcrawlers.

Palarm Creek:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop reported that crappie are biting well on Cubby jigs and pink minnows. Catfishing is excellent on limb lines and yo-yos using cut bait and chicken hearts.

Sunset Lake:  Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is murky and high. Crappie are being caught on minnows and 2-inch grubs. Bass fishing is fair on 5-inch green pumpkin lizards and chartreuse shad jerk baits.

Saline River Access in Benton:  Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the water is extremely high and all fishing is slow.

Arkansas River at Morrilton:  Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said the water is very high with temperatures in the mid-40s. Kentucky bass can be found in the backs of coves and are biting on black and chartreuse spinnerbaits. Catfishing is fair in deeper water on nightcrawlers. A few sauger have been caught below the dam on minnows. Stripers are good. No report on crappie, bream or whites.

Arkansas River at Little Rock:  Vince Miller from Fish N’ Stuff (501-834-5733) said bass are fair on black crankbaits and white jigs.

Little Maumelle River:  River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water is about 1½ feet low. Crappie fishing is fair in 2 to 3 feet of water on minnows and assorted jigs. Catfish can be caught on live and prepared bait.

Murray Lock and Dam:  Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are fair on pink minnows and slip-cork rigs. Catfishing is excellent on cut shad and sunfish. Snagging is starting to pick up from the high water.

Terry Lock and Dam:  McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said crappie are the best thing going on minnows and jigs.

NORTH ARKANSAS

Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is clear and low with heavy generation. Trout fishing is very good on white jigs, Rapalas and minnows. Fly-fisherman are having the most luck on woolly buggers.

McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been sporadic. However, fishing high water out of a boat has been very productive using large scuds, eggs and San Juan Worms. This is also a great time to fish large streamers for aggressive brown trout. Fishing from a boat using sinking lines, cast to fishy-looking structure as you drift downstream and use an erratic retrieve to swim your fly across the current. You won’t get as many hook-ups this way, but streamer fishing usually produces the biggest fish of the day.

Bull Shoals Lake:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.98 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.18 feet MSL.

101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature varies from 40 to 38 degrees. Striper fishing is good on live bait and stick baits worked over 20 to 80 feet of water. Walleye are staging in the creeks. Live bait and jigging spoons are working well in 10 feet of water. Crappie are biting well in 50 feet of water on tight lined minnows with a split shot at least 2 feet above the hook. Bass are fair on jigs and deep-diving crankbaits in 20 to 45 feet of water. White bass have been fair on jigging spoons 30 to 40 feet deep. Catfishing is good in the deep coves were you see baitfish.

Norfork Tailwater:  Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and low with generation in the mornings. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, nightcrawlers and corn.

Mountain River Fly Shop said the cold weather and rising lake level prompted more generation on the river, which means wait for the periods of no water or jump in a boat. Boat fishing streamers or dead drifting can be very productive. Try a spaghetti-and-meatballs (an egg pattern in front of a San Juan worm) rig outside the trophy zones or perhaps a Pink Lady or larger midge pattern. Remember to allow plenty of length between your indicator and fly to get that fly down. Streamer patterns can be very effective. Big streamers were attracting attention from some very good fish, including a couple of 20-inch browns. Try some zoo cougars, zonkers, big woolly buggers or even some of the larger Hansen’s stay hungry streamers in white. Sinking lines, like a type 2 are recommended. In low water fish scuds and sow bugs and midges.

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said the Norfork tailwater fished a bit better last week. There have been few anglers here because of the inclement weather. Some really nice fish were caught on brown zebra midges with copper wire and a copper bead. The bigger fish were caught during falling water. The river in general does not fish as well when there has been no generation for over twenty four hours. Anglers have also done well with Dan’s turkey tail emerger when the fish were keying in on the midge emergers in the film. There were a few kids at Dry Run Creek last week and predictably they did well. While sow bugs are the dominant food source, try fishing a Y2K or big San Juan worm. They generate a lot of strikes and the larger hook helps to land some of these big fish. The majority of big fish are lost at the net. Take your time and do not rush the process.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass are slow but hitting clown, silver/black and bone suspending jerk baits along points with timber and crayfish-patterned jigs along steep chunk rock banks. The War Eagle Arm has been good as well as the Prairie Creek area. Crappie fishing has also been tough. Fish are holding tight to cover in 10 to 30 feet of water. Best thing to do is drop your bait to the bottom next to the brush pile and slowly reel it past the cover. Good places to fish have been up either river arm. Best baits have been Shineee Hineee jigs and minnows. White bass continue to be on main-lake points on the deep side and a few are venturing into the mouths of major creek arms on the lake. Good places to fish have been the mouth of War Eagle, Piney Creek, Indian Creek and the cove just north of the dam. Reports have been that stripers are being caught from Horseshoe Bend south to Point 12. Best baits have been live brood minnows trolled slowly 10 to 30 feet deep. Catfish have been feeding heavily on dying shad, so finding a dead or dying one and putting it on a No. 1 circle hook and fishing along steep bluffs should do the trick.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said water conditions are about normal with temperature in the low 40s. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs around brush piles. Bass are fair on jerk baits. A few stripers have been caught on large minnows.

Beaver Tailwater:  McLellan’s Fly Shop said there has been very little generation below Beaver Dam, producing some excellent wade-fishing opportunities. During low water, midge patterns are always important on Beaver Tailwater, but especially during the winter months. Patterns like the Jujubee, the Poison Tung, and the Zebra Midge have been fooling many trout this week, especially on breezy days. Griffith’s Gnats and other midge dry fly patterns have been hooking plenty of trout as well. The best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud; Gray and Olive (size 14-16), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (size 14-16), Zebra Midge; Black/Copper and Olive (size 16-20), Mercury Brassie (size 18-20), Poison Tung; Gray/Blue and Black (size 20), Mercury Blood Midge (size 20-22), Zebra Jujubee Midge (size 20-22), Mercury Black Beauty (size 20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (size 20-22), Cream Midge Adult (size 22-24), Flashtail Mini Egg (size 16-18) and Unreal Egg (16).

Ken Richards at Justfishinguides said trout are biting on midges. Black and silver zebra midges working best. Olive/gold and gray/blue midge pupae are working also. Suspend your fly just above the bottom. A slight breeze enhances the action of these flies and the bite seems to be better.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) reported that water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well around brush on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on large spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Stripers are being caught on large minnows. 

Lake SWEPCO:  JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass are biting well on SWEPCO. Best baits have been live minnows under a float, pearl flukes and watermelon-colored bass jigs. The cove near the discharge has been productive as well as all the coves on the east side.

Lake Fayetteville:  Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) said the water is very muddy and all fishing is slow.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River surface temperature is 45 to 50 degrees, depending on location and time of day. Main lake clarity and visibility is at 3-5 inches with 2-5 inch visibility in Little River. Current is 8,700 cubic feet per second. Both ramps at Paraloma, both ramps at Cotton Shed, the Saratoga ramp closest to the dike, and both ramps at Beards Bluff are unusable because of the drawdown. Winter drawdown has revealed many submerged objects at or just within inches of pool surface in boat lanes and Little River. Use extreme caution in navigation, many of the boat lanes during winter pool drawdown are now only 3-10 inches in overall depth in various places. Although the water is almost at normal pool, the Corps plans to keep levels low until Feb. 25. Most of the excess water from recent rains is being released through the dams, creating additional navigation hazards from floating debris. Largemouth bass are biting well along Little River on Texas-rigged Hog Assassins, 10-inch worms, Rat-L-Traps and jigs. The best bite is in the warmer afternoons. Largemouth are holding near structure in Little River. Green pumpkin-colored creatures and flipping tubes are catching some decent keepers on the downstream side of stumps in the river. ¾- or 1-oz. Rat-L-Traps are catching some good bass fished slowly around stumps and cypress knees. Texas Craw and black/blue have been the best colors for jigs lately on the water. Any points with stumps along Little River, between 10-15 feet deep seem to be the most consistent location for crankbait bites and the best jig bite. Bomber Model A and Rebel Deep Wee R crankbaits in Bayou Bengal, Firetiger, or Secret Weapon colors, fished slowly from 8 to 12 feet deep, are still finding some keeper bass deflected off stumps along Little River. White bass are schooling in deep washouts in the river (18-23 feet deep) and hitting jigging spoons and live shiners between White Cliffs and the Hwy 71 bridge. Crappie have all but shut off completely with the influx of fresh, muddy water. Crappie should pick up as the water clarity improves. Channel cats have been excellent on Catfish Charlie, cut bait and chicken liver on trotlines and yo-yo’s along the river in 8-12 feet of water.

Lake Columbia:  Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Bream are fair on wax worms. Crappie are biting well on jigs and shiners.

Lake Erling:  Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) said water conditions are normal. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.

White Oak Lake:  White Oak Lake State Park said fishing has been fair this week. Bream and crappie are biting artificials and live bait. Bass are slow, as are the catfish. The lake level is high and the water is clear .

Lake Greeson:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 545.87 feet MSL.

Lakeside Grocery reported that the best thing going right now is bass on crankbaits and plastics in 8 to 10 feet of water.

Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips Guide Service said the lake level is rising fast and the water is muddy. The influx of fresh water is relatively warm, which will put the crappie on the move. No, they won't spawn yet, but rest assured they want to. Don't let a trip go by starting now that you don't check the shallows. The best bet is a jig-and-minnow in staging areas outside of spawning coves once the water clears.

Little Missouri River:  Jeff Guerin of Little Missouri Fly Fishing said generation has been ending around 11 a.m. and fishing has been good on A and W emergers stripped in across the current. The weather is still frigid, so be prepared for some chilly fishing.

DeGray Lake:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 405.38 feet MSL.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Blue Mountain Lake:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 387.38 feet MSL.

CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is muddy and at a normal level. Crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good on worms and large minnows.

Ozark Pool:  Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is dingy and at a normal level. A few crappie have been caught in deeper water on minnows. White bass are fair. Catfish are being caught on cut shad.

Lake Ouachita:  As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 576.15 feet MSL.

Lake Ouachita State Park reports that fishing has picked up. Water temperature is in the high 40s. Stripers are being caught on top-water lures such as Spook Jrs., spooning with CC spoons and trolling with crankbaits. Bass fishing is fair on finesse worms and spinnerbaits near structure. A few bream and crappie can be found in various areas.

Mountain Harbor Resort said the water is clear and at 42-48 degrees. Largemouth bass are still good and these fish can be caught with Deep Little N's and lipless crankbaits on main-lake points and secondary points. Walleye are slow and being caught on spoons over humps and main-lake points fished around brush. These fish are staging to move up the river and spawn. Stripers are good on live brood minnows and gizzard shad. Smoke or pearl-colored grubs are working as well. Crappie are still good and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 15 to 25 feet deep. Minnows or crappie grubs are still working best. Arkansas shad and white are the best colors for artificial baits.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass fishing has been good on deep trees near the edges of drop-offs. Working a black/blue or green pumpkin ½ to 3/4-oz. jig through treetops has produced well. Large Rat-L-Traps and ¾-oz. shad-colored spinnerbaits worked slowly around the timber are also picking up some fish.

Lake Catherine:  Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that recent heavy rainfall has Entergy opening flood gates and running the turbines non-stop in an effort to get rid of the massive amounts of water in our area lakes. The winter drawdown is still in effect until March 8, so be prepared for muddy water and heavy generation until this excess has cleared the system. Trout are extremely difficult to catch in muddy water; however, some fishermen have still had success by concentrating their efforts on areas of clearer water and also where the current is less strong. Fly-fishermen casting brightly colored micro-jigs and egg patterns have landed some very nice trout. Spin fishermen that continue to throw Rooster tails and Super Dupers are hooking trout that are keying in on the injured threadfin shad sucked through the turbines. Threadfin shad are a major food source at Carpenter Dam, so anglers need to use baits that imitate them whenever possible. Trout actively search for shad during periods of generation. Bank fishermen have been handicapped by the swift current, but have caught fish in areas closer to the bridge where the water is deeper with slower current. Nightcrawlers and redworms are productive when fished under a bobber. Corn and wax worms will also be effective despite the conditions. Very little striper and hybrid fishing has been done the past few days because of the weather. Remember that the walleye run is beginning as the male walleye are present in the tailrace. Within the next few days, the larger females will move into the area.

Lake Hamilton:  Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said fishing good with some decent fish being caught on crayfish-colored crankbaits in 10-15 feet of water around brush piles. Vertically jigging a ½-oz. spoon will catch a variety of fish in 20-30 feet of water. Crappie, walleye, Kentucky bass, white bass and yellow bass are all gathered up together on mid-lake humps and ridges.

Lake Hinkle:  Bill's Bait Shop (479-637-4719) said the water is murky and a little high. Crappie fishing is good in 12 to 14 feet of water on minnows. Bass are biting well on crankbaits.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

EAST ARKANSAS

White River:  Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said the river is in very bad condition right now, but it should clear up within the next week.

Maddox Bay:  Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) said the water is high. A few crappie have been caught on yo-yos with minnows.

Bear Creek Lake:  Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is clear and high, but extremely windy. Crappie are fair on minnows.