Start looking for post-spawn bass by finding empty beds. Some bass hang around the edges after spawning. A 6-inch finesse worm works well by shaking and quivering it through the old nest. Also try a shallow ditch or creek channel leading from the nesting grounds to deeper water. The fish hold around stumps, bushes, laydown trees and weeds. Some will only be in a foot of water, others will be deep. If the fish are shallow and it’s early, try a buzzbait. When the sun gets up, go to a floating/diving minnow-style lure. Cast it tight to cover and keep twitching until the bass takes it. Don’t get hung up on one lure or pattern.

Trimble Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 13): Headwater – 389.07 feet, Tailwater – 387.03 feet, Flow – 123,310 cubic feet per second
Ozark Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 12): Headwater – 371.43 feet, Tailwater – 353.76 feet
Dardanelle Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 10): Headwater – 337.65 feet, Tailwater – 303.64 feet
Ormond Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 9): Headwater – 286.19 feet, Tailwater – 284.53 feet, Flow – NO READING AVAILABLE
Toad Suck Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 8): Headwater – 268.56 feet, Tailwater – 267.44 feet
Murray Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 7): Headwater – 247.48 feet, Tailwater – 240.70 feet, Flow – 181,264
Terry Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 6): Headwater – 230.61 feet, Tailwater – 227.61 feet, Flow – NO READING AVAILABLE
Sanders Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 4): Headwater – 195.53 feet, Tailwater – 194.74 feet
Hardin Lock and Dam (Lock and Dam 3): Headwater – 184.04 feet, Tailwater – 182.91 feet
Mills Dam (Dam 2): Headwater – 160.88 feet, Tailwater – 160.74 feet, Flow – 14,071 cubic feet per second

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

10.5 feet at Calico Rock (flood stage – 19 feet)
9.8 feet at Batesville (flood stage – 15 feet)
25.1 feet at Newport (flood stage – 26 feet)
32.8 feet at Augusta (flood stage – 26 feet)
25.1 feet at Georgetown (flood stage – 21 feet)
33 feet at Clarendon (flood stage – 26 feet)

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said the water temperature is 67-70 degrees and the clarity is good. Some crappie are still being caught around cypress trees 3-7 feet deep. Redears are moving onto the flats and biting well on crickets and redworms. Bass are biting fairly well on flukes and spinnerbaits fished near vegetation. Catfishing is fair on trotlines and yo-yos.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort (501-302-3139) said the water is clear and normal with decent generation. Trout are biting well on spinnerbaits, glow worms and Power Eggs. Anglers can use artificial baits like red/gold Buoyant Spoons or brown/orange marabou jigs.

Greers Ferry: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 485.50 feet MSL.

Shiloh Marina said the water is stained and very high. Bream were biting fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are fair on top-water lures. Catfishing is fair with nightcrawlers. Walleye are fair on minnows.

Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level fell off a bit and is down to 485.88 this morning and falling slow. White bass and hybrid fishing is good now that the water has cleared; try grubs and in-line spinners. Bass fishing is picking back up after some cold nights. Weightless Rite Bite Cinkos and other Senko-type lures are working well in the shallows, as are Chatterbaits, Shakey Hookers and spinnerbaits. A few walleye have been caught dragging nightcrawlers across flats in 17 feet of water. Crappie are biting well on Road Runners and minnows. Bream are moving to the shallows. Catfishing is good all over the lake on live and prepared baits.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing (501-889-2745) said the water is stained and high. Crappie are biting fairly well on minnows and jigs. Bass are good on spinnerbaits. Bream are biting fairly well on crickets. Catfishing is fair on trotlines baited with minnows.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing (501-354-1470) said the water is dingy and high. Crappie are good on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is good on large minnows and nightcrawlers. Bream are fair on worms and crickets.

Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is about normal level. Crappie are at the end of their spawn and are moving deeper. You can catch them in 5 to 6 feet of water on black/chartreuse or pink/chartreuse/white jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps. Catfishing is good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said water conditions are normal. Bream are biting well in 10 to 12 feet of water on worms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in shallow water on 2-inch lemon-colored grubs. Bass are biting fairly well on watermelonseed lizards and green pumpkin lizards. Catfish are fair in deep water on liver.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill’s Outdoor Sports (501-315-3061) said the river is normal. Crappie are biting well on red/chartreuse Road Runners around brush piles. Bass are biting well on crankbaits and pumpkinseed finesse worms.

Arkansas River at Morrilton: Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Opello said the current is still strong. Backwater fishing is really heating up. Fishing along flooded grasslines and overhangs has been the best bet for most game fish. Some nice largemouth are being caught on buzzing toads flipped up in flooded grass and under overhangs and twitched erratically on the retrieve. White bass are in the creek mouths and jetty tips early and late in the day. White or pearl-colored Shad Raps are working well. Catfish are cruising flooded areas and biting well on worms. Gar are in the shallows and will bite a free-floating hook baited with a minnow or bream. Be sure to let the gar run with the bait a little while before setting the hook. Crappie are biting well around flooded timber and laydowns on live minnows.

Lake Maumelle: Jolly Rogers Marina said largemouths are excellent. They are on the beds and biting well on spinnerbaits, floating worms and crankbaits. Kentucky bass are getting ready to bed up along the north shore. Try a Carolina rig fished a little deeper than the largemouth bedding areas. Crappie are biting well on minnows and small jigs fished from 2 to 6 feet deep around any sort of bedding cover. White bass are fair on Road Runners Rooster Tails and small jigs. They are holding in the creek at the west end of the lake, but the spawning run is over. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms. Catfishing is fair on minnows and prepared baits fished on the bottom near shallow water.

Arkansas River in Little Rock: Vince Miller from Fish ‘N Stuff said bass are biting fairly well on black/blue jigs and Senkos in areas sheltered from the current.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait (501-868-3279) said the water level is almost back to normal, but all species are slow right now.

Murray Lock and Dam: Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop said crappie are fair on white and chartreuse jigs. Bass are fair on large minnows and white twister tails. Catfish are biting on shad and large minnows.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center (501-945-2471) said the water is normal. Bream are picking up and can be caught around the banks with wax worms and crickets. Crappie are biting in 4 feet of water on pink minnows.

NORTH ARKANSAS

The fishing on the upper White has been excellent, particularly the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals dam. The key to success has been to use conventional high water tactics. Large brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot pink, cerise and fire orange have all been productive) fished with a lot of lead and, of course, a really big strike indicator to float it all. This is not a delicate proposition and I would recommend larger tippet than normal, at least 4X to handle the larger flies and additional weight. Make sure that your indicator is set on the leader to enable the fly to tick the bottom of the water column. Remember it is a bit deeper than normal. This rig will be difficult to cast with the four weight rod than you fish on low water. I would recommend a stiff five weight or even better a six weight. If you are not fishing in Catch and Release waters, you should consider using a dropper (it is illegal to use more than one hook on your line in Catch and Release waters). The easiest way to do this is to tie a twenty four inch section of tippet to the bend of the lead hook with an improved clinch knot. Then tie on a small nymph or egg pattern to that piece of tippet. This tactic could double your chances of a hook up.

Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is crystal clear with four to eight generators running around the clock. Trout fishing is excellent on Power Bait, Rattling Rogues, Rapalas and imitation worms in natural or red colors. They also recommend lures such as 3/16-ounce Little Cleos and large Rooster Tails.

Mountain River Fly Shop said this time last week the Journal was talking about how good low-water midging was going. Seven days later there is 10-feet of water over the same shoals, with all 17 floodgates cracked 6 inches. It equates to just under 2 units of water extra on top of the 8 units of generation, but from most reports this week, the fishing has been excellent. A few things are clear – first, you need a boat and a designated driver. It might be a guide or a buddy. But half the skill is in boat positioning, and using the motor to extend the drift, so the flies are down where they need to be and stay there until they get eaten. This isn’t always easy in the type of winds we have forecast. Fish the grass beds and current seams where fish can hold and find food easily. The high water has flooded acres of fertile grassy fields, river edges which are full of worms. San Juans and variants just work. Fish long leaders and lots of weight and a big indicator to hold them up.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 694.16 feet MSL.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 579.30 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) reported the water is high. No fishing report.

101 Grocery and Bait said walleye fishing has been good this week on the points and in the coves with running creeks. Most walleye have been caught on live bait. White bass are still biting well. Striper fishing is good on live bait and some are doing well using Rogues fished in less than 30 feet of water. Crappie fishing is picking up using a minnow/jig combo around 20-30 feet deep. The water temperature has been in the high 50s to mid-60s. Catfishing has been good using limb lines and rod-and-reel with live bait.  Bass fishing has been fair on trick worms, lizards and flukes in the grassy areas and around the trees and brush.

Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said most places are underwater and they’ve closed because of flood conditions.

Mountain River Fly Shop said the flood gates have closed on the Norfork since we started writing this week's issue and we are keen to get over and have a look. By all reports the river banks look like a hurricane has gone through. You really have to feel for the dock owners on the Norfork, who bore the brunt of the flood impacts in this area. But in a fly-fishing sense, Norfork is going to be pretty exciting to explore. The huge volume of water has reshaped and renewed the river. You have to remember this cycle of flood, disturbance, and renewal is part of the natural life cycle of Arkansas rivers. The flood left a large amount of sandy sediment along the banks, which might result in some dirty water after the next few rains. Our only fishing report so far came while the flood gates were open, and shad patterns were doing well with some nice browns caught in the upper part of the river. Boat access does remain a problem however with the Upper boat ramp car park reportedly heavily damaged and still closed. The boat ramp at the confluence of the White River wasn't all that easy to access either with flood debris necessitating the use of some care while launching.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said Beaver lake is high and muddy. Bass fishing has been good on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits in and along the flooded timber. Another good choice is a black/blue rattling bass jig fished along steep banks.

Crappie fishing has been slow. Action will pick up as soon as the water warms into the upper 50s. Minnows fished 2 feet down along flooded timber will be effective. White bass fishing has been outstanding upstream from the Highway 45 bridge to the Lake Sequoyah spillway. Anything that resembles a minnow will work. Striper fishing has been tough but some fish have been caught around the Highway 45 bridge area on live brood minnows. Catfishing has been good all over the lake. Limblines and jug lines have been working best baited with small bream or cut bait.

Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms and crickets. Crappie are biting well in 4 to 10 feet of water on minnows and tube jigs. Bass are fair in shallow water on spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms. White bass are fair on minnows and crawdads. Stripers are fair on live bait.

Lake Fayetteville: JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said crappie fishing has been outstanding. Many limits are being filled by fishing a live minnow 2 feet under a float along points of coves and pockets on the south bank close to shore.

Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock (479-444-3476) reports the water is dingy, but at normal level. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft-plastic worms. Catfishing is good on chicken liver and large minnows.

Elmdale Lake: JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said bass fishing has been good on chartreuse spinnerbaits fished along the bank near flooded brush.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Spring River: Mark’s Fly Shop said water levels are dropping and clarity is improving every day. Wading the main channel is still dangerous, but it’s improving. Fishing at Dam Three has been excellent, and by the end of this month resorts along the river should begin to open, providing additional access to some great fishing areas. Many fish have been caught using size 10 mayfly nymphs and beadhead woolly buggers. Use long leaders and more weight in the main channel to get your fly down to the fish. Sunday morning, a black-and-gold Rooster Tail was taking quite a few large trout for the spin fishermen. Bait anglers have been bringing in fish on chartreuse and fluorescent orange PowerBait.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Grand Lake : Bass Tracker Marine (870-265-5374) said bream fishing is good with worms. Bass fishing is good on top-water lures. Crappie are biting well on minnows. Catfishing is good on large minnows and chicken liver.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake Guide Service said main lake and Little River surface temperature is 62 to 70 degrees. Water clarity is minimal because of all the runoff. Current is 37,698 cubic feet per second. Increased current in Little River and increase in discharge at Millwood Dam is slowly lowering the elevated lake level. Largemouth Bass are fair, and continue to improve. Red River level has begun to drop. Keepers from 4 pounds, up to 10 and 12 pounds full of eggs, and a 12.8-pound largemouth were caught and released during the last two weeks. The water clarity along the river and main lake was hit hard again with recent rain, lake wind advisories for past several days and incoming water. Watch out for floating debris, logs, tree limbs and broken vegetation in heavy current of Little River. Closed or unusable USACE boat ramps on Millwood are Wilton Landing, Beard's Bluff, White Cliffs (past #3), River Run East and River Run West, and all campsites close to the water. Saratoga, Paraloma, Highway 71, Okay, Yarborough and Jack's Isle boat ramps are open. Water temperatures continue to rise, and the spawn is in full swing. Many post-spawn largemouths have been seen upriver, while many in the lake are still staging and full of eggs. Many also have been caught off the beds in the last week. The fish are still very scattered.  The most aggressive bite is on Bass Assassin Shads, trick worms top-water toads and Senkos or bulky Rat-L-Traps. Southern Pro Flipping tubes or Fattbutt Tubes (with rattles) in black/red flake are still working in off-colored water, and black or pumpkin/chartreuse lizards or 10-inch worms. Heavy-thumping spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse, spot remover, hot mouse and firecracker are taking some decent 14 to 18-inch largemouths around flooded vegetation, away from current of the river. White bass are still nowhere to be found. The crappie bite is slow, but still improving. A few big crappie have been caught under cypress trees on pink/white or red/white jigs. Channel catfish are still excellent on dog food, cut shad or Catfish Charlie on trot lines and yo-yos hung near the river on cypress trees in 7-9 feet of water.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) had no report.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine (870-234-2222) had no report.

White Oak Lake: White Oak Lake State Park said fishing on both lakes continues to be good for catfish, panfish and bass. Catfish are biting well on stink bait. Some folks are doing well on yo-yos. Bass are biting well on artificial baits and minnows. The water temperature is beginning to warm.

Lake Greeson: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 550.57 feet MSL.

Lakeside Grocery reports the Self Creek ramp is the only ramp open at this time. Bream are fair on crickets. Crappie are biting well along the shore on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and top-water baits along brush piles. Catfishing is good on jugs, trotlines or limb lines baited with cut shad or live bait.

DeGray Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 407.96 feet MSL.

DeGray Lake State Park Marina said crappie are the talk of the day. They are in 15 inches to 2 feet of water with some very nice fish being caught on baby bass, electric chicken and yellow/white-colored 11/2-inch jigs. Reports on black bass have been a mixed bag. Some people hare having tough days, but others have been having some great fishing trips. In the last few weeks, fish have been seen paired up in the shallows, and a 6 and 11-pound largemouth have been brought to the scales. Bream are beginning to move to the shallows as well. The surface temperature is 67 degrees and the water is dingy from the fast rise and pollen.

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Bill’s Bait and Tackle (479-754-6354) said the water is high, but dropping and clearing up. Crappie are being caught on minnows. Catfish are biting well on live and prepared bait.

Blue Mountain Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 413.85 feet MSL.

CNC’s End of the Line (479-947-2398) said the water is still high and murky. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on worms and large minnows.

Ozark Pool: Lakeside Food Mart (479-667-5155) said the water is muddy and high. Bream are picking up on crickets. A few crappie are being caught on minnows. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits. Catfish are fair below the dam on cut bait, nightcrawlers and large minnows.

Lake Ouachita: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 581.46 feet MSL.

Mountain Harbor Marina said the water temperature ranges from 56 to 62 degrees. Largemouth bass are biting well on Carolina-rigged lizards, jighead worms and Brush Hogs. Yum Dingers and floating worms are working well in the backs of pockets on the north side of the lake. Walleye are biting well on spoons and green soft-plastics fished over humps and main lake points with brush. Stripers have been biting well on live brood minnows and gizzard shad. Top-water C-10 Redfins are turning on right now, as well as hair jigs fished around main-lake points. Bream are biting well on crickets and worms fished in water 18 to 25 feet deep. Crappie are fair and being caught over grass and brush. Try large moss flats and brush in water 8 to 15 feet deep. Catfish are still fair with reports of these fish being caught with live bait and cut bait in water 20 to 25 feet deep on jugs and trotlines.

Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said the lake is extremely high, but all boat ramps on the south side of the lake are open and doing well. Bass are very good, hitting many lures from floating worms to jigs. The key is to fish deeper than you think fish would normally bed. The old shoreline is 8 to 10 feet deep, and that’s where most of the bites have been coming from. Crappie and stripers are hit and miss.

Dave Lindhag of Striped Bass Adventures (501-760-6474) said the water has cleaned up excellently in the main lake and is dropping at a steady rate. Fishing is improving at a steady rate. If you’re looking for 8-15 pound-class fish, they’re firing pretty well from Twin Creek all the way through Shangri-La, up North Fork past Cedar Creek and past Point 19. Off the main body of the lake, Cedar Fourche and the Blakely Creeks are picking up. For large fish, freelining large 12-inch shad 5 feet deep over 20 feet of water near points has been working for quite a few 25 to 35 pound fish. Early morning and late evening have been the best times for the stripers.

Lake Catherine: Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that the tailrace waters are extremely muddy and fast flowing. It will be some time until the flood waters have receded and things get back to normal. While fishing is possible, the currents are very strong and Entergy is still running the turbines hard in an effort to clear the flood water. Anyone navigating the area should use caution and follow all guidelines for safe boating. One wrong move could easily spell disaster. Flood gates continue to be open creating dangerous undertow, as well as covering the area with very muddy water. Very little fishing has been done since the flooding began March 15.

Diamond Head Marina reported that the water is still high, but a few fish are being caught. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits.

Lake Hamilton: Larry Hurley from Poorman’s Guide Service said bass are biting very well on jigs and Carolina rigs with green pumpkin lizards. An extremely large bass was caught on a crankbait last weekend while filming “Another Day of Fishing.” Be sure to tune in to KWBF (My 42) Sunday at 9 a.m. to catch the action.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) said the water is still a little high and stained. Bream fishing is picking up on crickets. Crappie are scattered and biting fairly well on minnows. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Catfishing is good on large minnows.

EAST ARKANSAS

The Tackle Box (870-534-1498) reports the river is still high and stained. Bream are picking up on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bass are biting fairly well on spinnerbaits. Catfishing is excellent in the backwater on liver and large minnows.

White River: Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) said water is clearing up and high. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had no report.

Bear Creek Lake: Arkansas Outdoors (870-295-4240) said the water is stained and high. Crappie are fair on minnows. A few bass have been caught on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.