Arkansas Fishing Report from Anglers

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Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Tuesday 29 September, Largemouth Bass are good, in spite of incoming muddy water and rapidly changing, rising and falling conditions. The schooling fish can be caught at random, throughout the day. Surface water temps are currently in the mid to upper 70's. Repeated cold fronts have dropped the water surface temps over 10 degrees within the last week. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks at random intervals throughout the daylight hours, many schools of Black Bass chasing large pods of shad are herding them like cowboys and indians. Largemouth Bass ranging from 4-6 pounds are in typical dog-days of summer patterns. Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Crazy Shads and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river, now that the drawdown pool elevation has been reached. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps.

Boat ramps at various locations are closed due to lake level during drawdown. Yarborough is still open, although extremely shallow. Other ramps around Millwood are also shallow. Wilton Landing on Hwy 71 and White Cliffs are still open and gravel has been added by the USACE, to the end of the ramp to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown!

As of Tuesday, 29 September, the lake level was previously at reached drawdown pool, however due to flash flooding and thunderstorms, the lake rose over 3 feet in just 3 days. USACE made gate changes at the dam, to compensate, and as of today, lake level is approx 0.7 feet below normal pool, and falling, with 4 foot draw down still in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temps are currently ranging from approx 70ºF early to 75ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Tuesday, 29 Sept is 258.54 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. We expect another gate change mid-week due to continuing thunderstorms and flash flood warnings issued again this week.

As of Tuesday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge increased to 16,970 CFS is with 13 gates open at 3.5 feet each and 2 sluice gates open at 6 feet each. Main lake visibility worsened with all thunderstorms over the past week and are approx 2-4" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 240.31 feet and rising. The river clarity also worsened due to recent thunderstorms, and is approx 3-5", at best. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity also is heavier stain than last week, and clarity is ranging from 1-2 feet at best, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

A drawdown of four feet on Millwood Lake, began July 13, 2009 until Feb. 9, 2010 to control unwanted aquatic vegetation and make scheduled repairs, according to the Corps of Engineers. The lake will be allowed to refill 2 feet above normal pool elevation to 261.2 feet, in February 2010, the 2-foot rise will last one month, and then the lake will be returned to normal pool.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup or drop-offs that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Over the past week, cold fronts, continual rain and thunderstorms continue to pass through southern Arkansas and have dropped surface temperatures dramatically. The feeding activity of Bass continue to improve as temps have dropped and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks has begun shifting from daylight till noon, to mid-day. However, schooling Largemouth Bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day, all day.

The most aggressive bass bite over the past week continues to be on smoke or holographic grubs rigged on white jig heads for schooling fish, along with topwater baits like Cordell Crazy Shads, Clear Baby Torpedoes, YUM Buzz Frogs, and Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits. For sub-surface schools, Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Big O or XCalibur Fat Free Shad Crank baits. The best Rat-L-Trap colors over the past couple weeks remain Sexy West, Millwood Magic, Transparent, and they continue working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows as well as schooling bass. Many pods of these schooling fish have been found over the past several weeks, congregating bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. During the schooling action, top water bite is fantastic, and a good time to take a youngster fishing. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses and buzz baits in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working inside these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads or vegetation where the Traps or cranks can't be utilized. Chrome/black Crazy Shads, smoke grubs on 1/8 oz jig heads, Spitn Images, Rat-L-Traps, and clear Baby Torpedoes continue working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation for these schooling bass. Majority of schooling bass are ranging from 1-3 pounds each, however, occasionally a school of 5-6 pound fish, in very good number can be located chasing shad in the river.

Shallow to medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads in gray mouse, white, or citrus shad colors are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high and bearing down, the best bass bite option continues to be to switch to lizards in redbug or chameleon colors; 10" worms in Peanut Butter 'n Jelly are working in the clearer water of the oxbows up Little River, and June Bug, The General, or Black Grape colors, are working in the heavier stained and muddy areas, by pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water. Be advised, the frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River, especially at creek mouth junctions. Cranks are many times finding these schools of larger bass before any surface activity is being observed.

Siefert's buzz baits in Chartreuse Shiner, Bleeding Chartreuse Shad, or Black; and spinner baits in White/ Chartreuse, Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working in and around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, in the clearest water areas available, typically in the oxbows away from the increased current of Little River. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, continue working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom or Crystal Shad and Silver Ghost colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins, or Twitch Assassins wacky rigged. Best color for Yum Buzz Frogs are Pumpkin Pearl or Black.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Texas Craw, Black/blue, or Chartreuse Walnut colors continue catching keeper bass in the 3-5 lb class. Keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas rigged 10" worms and 8" lizards in June Bug, Black Moccasin, Peanut Butter & Jelly colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. Any areas with Dollar Pads and Lily Pad new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees continue to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass. Mouths to major creeks are holding good numbers of bass intersecting Little River also.

White Bass: Schooling White Bass disappeared with the increase in muddy water and current.

Crappie: bite almost completely shut down with all the current, and muddy water along Little River, over the past 10 days.

Channel Cats: Channel Cats are loving the increase in current along Little River and biting well with the increase in current, and are best on bulky earthworms, cut shad, chicken livers, or Charlie by either tight-lining, or on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 10-15' depths, and on trotlines in Little River current.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Tuesday 29 September, Largemouth Bass remain very good, in spite of incoming muddy water and rapidly changing conditions. The schooling fish can be caught at random, throughout the day. Surface water temps are currently in the mid to upper 70's. Repeated cold fronts have dropped the water surface temps over 10 degrees within the last week. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks at random intervals throughout the daylight hours, many schools of Black and White Bass chasing large pods of shad together and herding them like cowboys and indians. Largemouth Bass ranging from 4-6 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Crazy Shads and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks.

Upriver oxbow's clarity also is heavier stain than last week, and clarity is ranging from 1-2 feet at best, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

September 29, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 462.28 and falling , as well as the temp it is running 73-77 degrees in the mornings and warming up some in the afternoons. When it get to 70 degrees the bite will really be on them.

The hybrids are not schooling a lot with the changing weather but they are schooling good under the water Wednesday of last week a group of 4 caught and 170 head of fish in 7 ½ hours and on Monday of this week a group of 3 boated 80 whites and hybrids in a 3 ½ hour period , they are bitinf real well when they are feeding and that is a lot of the day, you have just got to stay over the top of them and use spoons and in-line spinners as well as hair jigs , the big fish are under the smaller ones, patience is the key and hit several different places durning the day.

All blackbasses are biting well also and some are even schooling like they used to try top water baits , and hair jigs for the schoolers and football heads and c-rigs and texas rigged worms for the deeper fish on points and humps and brushpile fish, some shallow fish are being caught with flukes and small crakbaits and spinnerbaits, dropshots and double dropshots are working deep also.

Crappie , some are even up around the bushes and out in open guts , most are suspended in the pole timber or over brushpiles 15 – 20 feet of water on jigs and minnows, and the crappie light is working good.

Not much report on catfish as of late.

Walleye are mixed with hybrids and white bass getting easy meals, eating what they spit up and a few can be caught with jig head crawlers in 27 feet of water and suspende with crankbaits.

Bream are eating it shallow on crawlers and crickets.

September 24, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/24/2009

During the past week, we have had cool temperatures and a succession of significant rain events, which raised all of the lake levels on the White River system. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose four and nine tenths of a foot to rest at five and two tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty five and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose one and five tenths of a foot to rest at two feet above power pool or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one and five tenths feet to rest at six tenths of a foot above power pool or nine feet below the top of flood pool. We had some long windows of no generation during the past week. This created some excellent wading. On some days, drift fishing was very limited. Norfork Lake rose three and four tenths of a foot to rest at four and eight tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty three and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been little generation on the Norfork with plenty of wading available.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been much better this week. The rains caused some off color conditions down stream and this was the only clear water for several days. With the low level flows, it was difficult to navigate around all the new habitat structures recently installed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Corps of Engineers. Midge patterns have been the ticket. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead, the red zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. On moderate flow brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (orange and yellow) have been the go to flies.

Wildcat Shoals has hit or miss. On low water days, when the water was relatively clear the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dan’s turkey tail emerger and the olive woolly bugger were also effective. This is a broad shallow shoal that can provide limited wading on low levels of generation. Be very careful, as there is a lot of bedrock in this area, which can be treacherous to wade. Studded boots are highly recommended. It did not fish well on those days when it was severely stained.

Rim was also hit or miss due to the runoff from the heavy rains we encountered. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen, prince nymphs in size sixteen and beadhead sowbugs size fourteen. Other flies, specifically hot pink fluorescent San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers accounted for some large fish. If you encounter high water, Rim Shoals Trout Dock maintains a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are high and off color. Give them a few days to clear. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns. The White River below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River is stained and fishing poorly.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this past week. With wadable water on the White the river was not as crowded as it has been. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have been effective. On sunny windy days the grasshopper has been particularly effective. Use nine foot 4X leaders and carefully work the banks. Drop the fly on the water with a plop and give the fly a twitch from time to time, to initiate a vicious strike. The best patterns have been Dave’s hoppers and Rainey’s hoppers. It should be noted that, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is to resurface the parking lot at the ramp at Quarry Park beginning on September 24, and ending on October 9. The ramp will be closed during this process and the area will effectively be closed to fishing. This will leave the Ackerman Access as the only access open on the Norfork River .

There are some spawning rainbows in the Catch and Release section. You should avoid fishing for them to allow them to reproduce naturally. We could use some more wild rainbows. Also avoid walking through the redds (spawning beds). They will appear as light colored depressions in the gravel.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). Be sure and bring a large net and a camera. The habitat improvement project for Dry Run Creek has begun. If you go down there, you will see trucks or cranes operating in the stream. The fish are still there but it is important to avoid the areas under construction. This project will enhance angling opportunities for the handicapped and improve the creeks fish handling capacity.

The Southern Council Conclave is to be held in Mountain Home next week and there will be a lot of out of town anglers fishing our local streams. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water.

September 21, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - 09/21/09 Norfork Lake level is around 555’MSL and the water surface temp ranges from the mid to upper 70 degrees. Crappie fishing has been good in 20-25 feet of water around the brush piles. Using minnows has had the best results. Bluegill fishing has been good using crickets and worms. Bass fishing has been good in the mornings and evenings. Cat fishing has been good with night crawlers being choice bait. Trot lines have been doing well. We had a nice 39 lb flathead come in earlier. Striper fishing has been fair. Some days they’re hot, some not. Spooning has been a good choice for striper fishing around the dam area. Live bait, shad or shiners, have had some good results also. White bass fishing has been good and you may even hook a Hybrid. Walleye fishing has been good, night crawlers seem to be the favorite bait. Over all fishing has been good and as the water cools even more it will get just better. The Stripers and Walleye will begin moving up the lake and they will be everywhere. With the rain fall we have been experiencing and the inflow of water, the fish may begin moving up the lake even sooner. The whites are exploding in the Udall area. Some are small but this is only the beginning of a great fall fishing season. Have Fun, Go Fishin.

September 22, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level is at 462.64 and rising , after the front the water has cooled even more

The white and hybrid bass are schooling all over the lake and will be up one minute and down the next or stay up all day and when they go down may even disappear all together like a ghost , you have just got to try and stay with them and it should be easier as the days go on here and the water and weather stable out some, try top waters ,spoons , hairjigs,rinky dinks, as they are chasing small bait and in-line spinners for the best results.

Crappie are biting out in open water as well as in the pole timber and in around and over the top of brushpiles, 15-25 feet deep, use minnows and jigs

No-report on the catfish

The bream are biting well up shallow on crickets and night crawlers

The walleye are fair and you can catch quite a few under the schooling blacks, whites and hybrids , on spoons and also try and drag some crawlers on jigheads in 27 feet of water.

The blackbasses, some are shallow and some are still out deep on humps and points and coming up chasing bait from time to time, the bottom bite is good on a texas rigged worm, football heads or c-rigs, if suspended try a drop shot, the shallow fish will eat flukes , spinnerbaits and small crankbaits, the smallmouth will eat a c-rig pretty well.

Tommy Cauley

September 21, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 21 September, Largemouth Bass remain very good, in spite of incoming muddy water and rapidly rising conditions. The schooling fish can be caught at random, throughout the day. Surface water temps are currently in the mid to upper 80's. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks at random intervals throughout the daylight hours, many schools of Black and White Bass chasing large pods of shad together and herding them like cowboys and indians. Largemouth Bass ranging from 4-6 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Crazy Shads and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks.

As of Monday, 21 September, the lake level has been at drawdown pool, however due to flash flooding and thunderstorms as of today, is approx 0.5 feet below normal pool, and rising due past week of thunderstorms, with 4 foot draw down still in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temps are currently ranging from approx 82ºF early to 88ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 21 Sept is 258.77 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. We expect another gate change mid-week due to continuing thunderstorms and flash flood warnings issued again this week.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge increase of 10,086 CFS is with 13 gates open at 1 foot each and 2 sluice gates open at 6 feet each. Main lake visibility worsened with all in thunderstorms over the past week and are approx 2-4" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 241.30 feet and rising rapidly. The river clarity also worsened due to recent thunderstorms, and is approx 3-5", at best. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity also is heavier stain than last week, and clarity is ranging from 1-2 feet at best, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Over the past week, cold fronts, continual rain and thunderstorms continue to pass through southern Arkansas and have kept surface temperatures in the mid 80's and the feeding activity of Bass continue to improve. Surface temps remained fairly constant over the past week and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till noon, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Largemouth Bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day, all day.

The most aggressive bass bite over the past week continues to be on smoke grubs rigged on white jig heads for schooling fish, along with Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O or Fat Free Shad crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. The best Rat-L-Trap colors over the past couple weeks remain Sexy West, Millwood Magic, Transparent, and they continue working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows as well as schooling bass. Many pods of these schooling fish have been found over the past several weeks, congregating bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. During the schooling action, top water bite is fantastic, and a good time to take a youngster fishing. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses and buzz baits in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads or inside the vegetation where the Traps or cranks can't be utilized. Chrome/black Crazy Shads, smoke grubs on 1/8 oz jig heads, Spitn Images, Rat-L-Traps, and clear Baby Torpedoes continue working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation for these schooling bass. Majority of schooling bass are ranging from 1-3 pounds each, however, occasionally a school of 5-6 pound fish, in very good number can be located chasing shad in the river.

Shallow to medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads in gray mouse, or citrus shad colors are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high and bearing down, the best bass bite option continues to be to switch to lizards in redbug or chameleon colors; 10" worms in Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, June Bug, or The General colors, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water, although frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River, especially at creek mouth junctions. Cranks are many times finding these schools of larger bass before any surface activity is being observed.

Siefert's buzz baits in Kudzu, Casper Ghost, or Bleeding Avocado colors, and spinner baits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, in the clearest water areas available, typically in the oxbows away from the increased current of Little River. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, continue working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom or Crystal Shad and Silver Ghost colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins, or Twitch Assassins wacky rigged.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Black/blue/purple or Texas Craw colors continue catching keeper bass in the 3-5 lb class. Keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms and lizards in blue moccasin, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. Any areas with Dollar Pads and Lily Pad new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees continue to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: As of Monday, schooling White Bass continue schooling in close proximity to the Black Bass over the past week around both first and second Horseshoe Lake entrances, and White Cliffs. These schooling Whites were very aggressive hitting Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic and smoke colored curly tail grubs on jigheads.

Crappie: bite subsided all along Little River, due to increase in current, muddy inflow, increased water turbidity lake-wide

Channel Cats: Channel Cats are loving the increase in current along Little River and biting well with the increase in current, and are best on cut shad, chicken livers, or Charlie on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 10-15' depths, and on trotlines in Little River current.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Boat ramps at various locations are closed due to lake level during drawdown. Yarborough is still open, although extremely shallow during this drawdown. Other ramps around Millwood are also shallow. Wilton Landing on Hwy 71 and White Cliffs are still open and gravel has been added by the USACE, to the end of the ramp to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown!

Upriver oxbow's clarity also is heavier stain than last week, and clarity is ranging from 1-2 feet at best, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

September 17, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 9/17/2009

During the past week, we have had unseasonably cool temperatures and a significant rain event, which was a slow soaker and had little effect on lake levels. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell five tenths of a foot to rest at three tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose four tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake remained steady at nine tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Over the weekend, we had some nice twelve hour windows of no generation then during the past week we have had very light generation around the clock. This created some very limited wading. On some days, drift fishing was very limited. Norfork Lake rose one tenth of a foot to rest at one and four tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty six and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been little generation on the Norfork with plenty of wading available. All of the lakes in the White River system are at or near power pool. If cool temperatures and little or no rainfall continue, I predict wadable water in the near future.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been hit or miss this last week. Some days were slow and some were spectacular. With the low level flows, it was difficult to navigate around all the new habitat structures recently installed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Corps of Engineers. Midge patterns have been the ticket. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger.

Wildcat Shoals has been quite productive. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dan’s turkey tail emerger and the olive woolly bugger were also effective. This is a broad shallow shoal that can provide limited wading on low levels of generation. Be very careful, as there is a lot of bedrock in this area, which can be treacherous to wade. Studded boots are highly recommended. On sunny windy days the grasshopper has been particularly effective. Use nine foot 4X leaders and carefully work the banks. Drop the fly on the water with a plop and give the fly a twitch from time to time, to initiate a vicious strike. The best patterns have been Dave’s hoppers and Rainey’s hoppers.

Rim Shoals has been spotty this past week. Some days have been spectacular and some have been slow. In general, the mornings have fished better than the afternoons. The water was gin clear and 6X tippet or smaller was the key to success. The hot flies has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen, prince nymphs in size sixteen and beadhead sowbugs size fourteen. Other flies, specifically hot pink fluorescent San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers accounted for some large fish. If you encounter high water, Rim Shoals Trout Dock maintains a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are a bit high and off color. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns.

The Norfork River has been a bit slow this past week. With little if any wadable water on the White, on most days, this was the only show in town. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have been effective. Grasshoppers and olive woolly buggers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished a bit better. It should be noted that, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is to resurface the parking lot at the ramp at Quarry Park beginning on September 24, and ending on October 9. The ramp will be closed during this process and the area will effectively be closed to fishing. This will leave the Ackerman Access as the only access open on the Norfork River . I cannot believe that they are doing this during conclave.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The habitat improvement project for Dry Run Creek has begun. If you go down there, you will see trucks or cranes operating in the stream. The fish are still there but it is important to avoid the areas under construction. This project will enhance angling opportunities for the handicapped and improve the creeks fish handling capacity. Kudos to Dave Whitlock for a great design job on this project.

Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in any other water.

September 15, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level at greers ferry is at 460.22 and rising and the temp is falling .

Crappie biting pretty well in the pole timber again with the cooler water temps , hanging out in 15 feet of water or so and biting minnows or jigs.

The hybrid and white bass are schooling all over the lake with the little ones being on top and sometimes running into a school of big fish on top , but as always you can catch the bigger fish under the smallones , with spoons ,hairjigs and in-line spinners , for the others use top water baits or even swim a grub, or rinky dink.

The blackbasses are schooling all over the lake as well try top waters baits spoons, and jighead worms for them and the other fish can be caught in shallow water with small crankbaits,flukes and spinnerbaits , the deeper fish 15-25 feet deep can be caught with texas rigged worms, c-rigged lizards and football heads, as well as drop shot rigs.

No –report on catfish.

Bream are biting well on just about anything from hot dogs on down.

Walleye are biting somewhat on crawlers in 12-23 feet of water, and the best bite is under the hybrids and white bass with spoons

September 14, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 14 September, Largemouth Bass remain excellent early and late in the day and schooling fish can be caught at random, throughout the day. Surface water temps are currently in the mid to upper 80's. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks at random intervals throughout the daylight hours, many schools of Black and White Bass chasing large pods of shad together and herding them like cowboys and indians. Largemouth Bass ranging from 4-6 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Crazy Shads and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks.

As of Monday, 14 September, the lake level is at drawdown pool, and is approx 3.25 feet below normal pool, and rising due past week of thunderstorms, with 4 foot draw down now in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temps are currently ranging from approx 82ºF early to 88ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 14 Sept is 255.95 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 1,311 CFS is with 13 gates open at 1 foot each. Main lake visibility worsened with all in thunderstorms over the past week and are approx 5-6" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 226.58 feet. The river clarity also worsened due to recent thunderstorms, and is approx 8-9". High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity also is heavier stain than last week, and clarity is ranging from 2-3 feet at best, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Over the past week, cold fronts and cool rain continue to pass through southern Arkansas and have kept surface temperatures in the mid 80's and the feeding activity of Bass continue to improve. Surface temps remained fairly constant over the past week and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till noon, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Largemouth Bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day, all day.

Siefert's buzz baits in Kudzu, Casper Ghost, or Bleeding Avocado colors, and spinner baits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, continue working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom or Crystal Shad and Silver Ghost colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins, or Twitch Assassins wacky rigged.

Crappie: bite is fair on live shiners and jigs with the decreased water clarity and increased current. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, and shiners are best bet, working them in 12-15' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps and over planted brush piles along Little River.

Channel Cats: Channel Cats are biting better with the increase in current, and are best on cut shad, chicken livers, or Charlie on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 10-15' depths, and on trotlines in Little River current.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Upriver oxbow's clarity also is heavier stain than last week, and clarity is ranging from 2-3 feet at best, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

Mike

September 14, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Steve Olomon of Steve's Guide Service.

The lake level is 553.1 and the water temperature is in the upper 70's. Bass are chasing baitfish to the top early and just before dark. Points with deep water are better. They seem to prefer Zara spook but will hit other top water baits. Then go to a jig or a worm. Look for fish down around 40 feet and drop a jigging spoon. There were some stripers in that depth. The fish are moving around a lot so one day they are in a spot and not the next. Just keep looking for similar areas. Till next week Good Fishing!!!!!

September 8, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 460.21 and falling with generation and the temp ranges from 77- 81 degrees.

The white and hybrid bass are still going strong , schooling and chasing shad on the surface as well as below the surface and can be caught with top water baits jigging spoons and hair jigs some bigger threadfin are showing up now as are the bigger hybrids try cove creek, sugarloaf area, as well as the orchard

Walleye are biting crawlers and are being caught under the whites and hybrids on spoons and in –line spinners, and for dragging try crawlers or a jighead worm

Crappie have shut down some what with the cooler weather , but should get back stable soon.

Bream are biting anything from hotdogs on down , the last spawn probably has just gotten over , but a lot of them will hang around the bank with the cooler water temps . try crawlers, crickets and the like.

Bass fishing is good with them biting spinnerbaits , crankbaits and flukes and topwaters around the banks as well as jighead worms , out deeper try football heads texas rigged worms and c-rigs fished from 12-40 feet of water.

No report on catfish this week

Tommy Cauley

September 9, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service - The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Tuesday 07 September, Largemouth Bass remain excellent early and late in the day and schooling fish can be caught at random, throughout the day. Surface water temps are currently in the mid to upper 80's. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks at random intervals throughout the daylight hours, many schools of Black and White Bass chasing large pods of shad together and herding them like cowboys and indians. Largemouth Bass ranging from 4-6 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Crazy Shads and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks.

As of Tuesday, 07 September, the lake level is at drawdown pool, and is approx 3.58 feet below normal pool, and falling due to 4 foot draw down now in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temps are currently ranging from approx 81ºF early to 86ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Tuesday, 07 Sept is 255.62 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 632 CFS is with 8 gates open at 1 foot each. Main lake visibility is approx 8-10" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 226.04 feet. The river clarity is improved due to recent reduction in current and discharge at the dam, approx 12-15". High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 3-4 feet in depth, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Over the past several weeks, cold fronts continue to pass through southern Arkansas and have reduced surface temperatures again, and the feeding activity of Bass continue to improve. Surface temps dropped again over the past week and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Largemouth Bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day, all day.

The most aggressive bass bite over the past week continues to be on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. The best Rat-L-Trap colors over the past couple weeks are Sexy West, Millwood Magic, Transparent, or Subtle Purple Haze Vibra Traps and they are working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows as well as schooling bass. Many pods of these schooling fish have been found over the past week with congregation of bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads or inside the vegetation where the Traps can't be utilized. Chrome/black Crazy Shads, Spitn Images, Rat-L-Traps, and clear Baby Torpedoes continue working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation for these schooling bass. Majority of schooling bass are ranging from 1-3 pounds each, however, occasionally a school of 5-6 pound fish can be located chasing shad in the river.

Shallow to medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads in gray mouse, or citrus shad colors are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high and bearing down, the best bass bite option continues to be to switch to lizards in redbug or chameleon colors; 10" worms in Electric Blue, Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, or June Bug colors, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water, although frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River, especially at creek mouth junctions. Cranks are many times finding these schools of larger bass before any surface activity is being observed.

Siefert's buzz baits in Bubble Gum, Pearl Green Chestnut, or Bleeding Moccasin colors, and spinner baits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, continue working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom or Crystal Shad and Silver Ghost colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins, or Twitch Assassins wacky rigged.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Black/blue/purple or Texas Craw colors are working to take keeper bass in the 3-5 lb class. Short, 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig worms are catching good fish in the river on stumps. Keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms and lizards in blue moccasin, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees continue to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: As of Tuesday, schooling White Bass continue schooling in close proximity to the Black Bass over the past week around Horseshoe Lake entrances, and White Cliffs. These schooling Whites were very aggressive hitting Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic and smoke colored curly tail grubs on jigheads.

Crappie: continue to improve on live shiners and jigs with the increased water clarity and reduced current. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, and shiners are working in 15-17' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps and over planted brush piles along Little River.

Channel Cats: Channel Cats continue biting well on cut shad, chicken livers, or Charlie on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12' depths, and on trotlines in Little River current.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 3-4 feet in depth, dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired. Boat ramp repair and improvements at the Millwood State Park continue and almost completed.

Mike

September 3, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - During the past week we have had a minor rain event and unseasonably cool temperatures. The lakes on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam held steady at nine tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell three tenths of a foot to rest at nine tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been difficult to pin down. Over the weekend there were very low flows (around 2/3 of a full generator) and then during the past week we have had some days with moderate generation and some days with a significant period of no generation. This created some excellent conditions for wade fishing. On some days, drift fishing was very limited. Norfork Lake has fallen one tenth of a foot to rest at six tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. There has been little generation on the Norfork with plenty of wadable available. All of the lakes in the White River system are at or near power pool. If cool temperatures and little or no rainfall continue, I predict wadable water in the near future.

Remember that there is a new size limit on Brown trout. All browns less than twenty four inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and Norfork Rivers . Only one brown trout may be kept in the daily limit of five trout. I noticed a photo of an obviously undersized brown trout with a stringer in its mouth displayed in this week’s Baxter Bulletin. This was a clear violation and could subject the angler to a serious fine. You need to carefully measure brown (Minimum 24 inches), brook (minimum 14 inches) and cutthroat trout (minimum 16 inches) and immediately release them, if they are undersize.

The fish habitat project in the Catch and Release section at the base of Bull Shoals Dam that was constructed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers is now complete. The project was finished in a fraction of the time allotted. There is still some legitimate concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. Please be careful when boating in this area.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has slowed the last week. We have had substantial periods of no generation on some days that fished well. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger.

The Narrows has fished well this past week. The hot fly was the black zebra midge but the olive woolly bugger came in a close second. The construction of the new public access is near completion. This will include restroom facilities and a picnic table. Access is much easier than in the past.

Wildcat Shoals has been productive. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dan’s turkey tail emerger was also effective.

Rim Shoals has fished well this past week. There were several days with wadable water. The water was gin clear and 6X tippet or smaller was the key to success. The hot flies has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen, prince nymphs in size sixteen and beadhead sowbugs size fourteen. Other flies, specifically red San Juan worms and grasshoppers accounted for some large fish. On some days there were low flows that were also productive. Here again the zebra midge and the grasshopper were the most effective flies.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared and are fishing well. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. With wadable water on the White, the crowding here has substantially decreased. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have been effective. Grasshoppers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). There is little room to cast. The most effective technique is to high stick nymphs. While you are there be sure and tour the adjacent National Fish Hatchery. Be sure and remove your waders before entering to avoid transferring aquatic diseases.

With a holiday week coming up, we will have several anglers visiting the Twin Lakes area. Remember that the White and Norfork Rivers are infected with didymo, an invasive alga. Be sure and thoroughly clean and dry your waders (especially the felt soles on wading boots) before using them in your home water.

September 1, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - 09/01/09 Fishing is good in the Ozarks on Norfork Lake with a lake level around 552’ MSL and surface temps about 80-81 degrees. Striper fishing has been good from the mid-lake area south toward the dam using live bait, jigging a spoon, and trolling deep diving stick baits or roadrunners. Crappie fishing is good using minnows fished in 20-30 feet of water around brush piles. Bass fishing has been good using a variety of baits from worms to a jig-n-pig set up. Blue gill fishing is good using crickets or a worm, fishing in the coves has had some good results. Cat fishing has been good using worms, shiners, and small sunfish. White bass have been surfacing in the mornings. Using about any inline spinner bait or jigging a spoon will get you results. Walleye fishing has been good. Use night crawlers on a spinner or drop a spoon and jig. Just keep in mind, the fish are always moving and you may not always get results in your favorite honey hole every time, so you need to look around. Also, the depth the fish are at changes all the time this is why the guides and any one that catches fish often fish a lot. Have Fun Go Fishin.

September 2, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 31 August, Largemouth Bass remain excellent early and late in the day and schooling fish can be caught at random, throughout the day. Surface water temps are currently in the mid to upper 80's. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks at random intervals throughout the daylight hours, many schools of Black and White Bass chasing large pods of shad together and herding them like cowboys and indians. Largemouth Bass ranging from 4-6 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Crazy Shads and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks.

As of Monday, 31 August the lake level has virtually reached the drawdown pool, risen slightly since last week, and is approx 3.5 feet below normal pool, and falling due to 4 foot draw down now in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 82ºF early to 88ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 31 Aug, is 255.69 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 632 CFS is with 8 gates open at 1 foot each.

Main lake visibility is approx 8-10" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 226.97 feet. The river clarity is improved due to recent reduction in current and discharge at the dam, approx 9-14". High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The past week's 2nd cold front passed through have reduced surface temperatures again, and the feeding activity of Bass continue to improve. Surface temps dropped again over the past week and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Largemouth Bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day, all day.

Best bass bite over the past week continues to be on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps in Transparent, Millwood Magic, and Shad Daddy colors are working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows. Many pods of schooling fish have been found over the past week with congregation of bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads. Chrome/black Crazy Shads, Rat-L-Traps, and clear Baby Torpedoes continue working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation for these schooling bass. Majority of schooling bass are ranging from 1-3 pounds each, however, occasionally a school of 3-6 pound fish can be located chasing shad in the river.

Medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads in gray mouse, or citrus shad colors are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high and bearing down, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 8" magnum lizard in Redbug or Junebug colors; 10" worms in June Bug, Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, or Plum colors, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water, although frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River, especially at creek mouth junctions. Cranks are many times finding these schools of larger bass before any surface activity is being observed.

Siefert's buzz baits in Blue Glimmer Shad, Kudzu, or Bleeding Grasshopper colors, and spinner baits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, continue working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom or Crystal Shad and Silver Ghost colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad or Twitch Assassins wacky rigged.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Texas Craw or Chartreuse- Chestnut (or Walnut) colors continue to take keeper bass in the 3-4 lb class. Short, 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig worms are catching good fish in the river on stumps. Keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms and lizards in blue moccasin, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees continue to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: As of Monday, schooling White Bass continue schooling in close proximity to the Black Bass over the past week between Jack's Isle and White Cliffs. These schooling Whites were very aggressive hitting Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic and smoke colored curly tail grubs on jigheads.

Crappie: continue to improve on live shiners and jigs with the increased water clarity and reduced current. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, are working in 12-15' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps and over planted brush piles along Little River.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 632 CFS is with 8 gates open at 1 foot each.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

Mike

August 27, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/27/2009

We have gone a week without a rain event. The lakes on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose four tenths of a foot to rest at nine tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell two tenths of a foot to rest at one and two tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at six tenths of a foot below power pool or ten and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been for no generation in the morning and occasionally no generation at night. The flows have been moderate in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen three tenths of a foot to rest at seven tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven and three tenths feet below the top of flood pool.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been particularly good for the last week. We have had substantial periods of no generation each day that have fished particularly well. The trick has been to avoid the areas where the construction is active. The heavy equipment really didn’t seem to bother the trout very much, at all. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. Use long 4X tippets and large split shot (AAA) to get the flies down to the bottom. Be very careful when drifting in this area. There are some new significant obstacles to navigation and you need quite a bit of generation to safely clear them.

The Narrows has fished well this past week. It got a bit crowded over the weekend. The hot fly was the black zebra midge but the olive woolly bugger came in a close second.

Wildcat Shoals has been another hot spot. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt. Dan’s turkey tail emerger was also effective.

Rim Shoals has been red hot this past week. There were several days with wadable water. The water was gin clear and 6X tippet was the key to success. The hot fly has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen. Other flies, specifically red San Juan worms and grasshoppers accounted for some large fish. On some days there were moderate flows that were very productive. Here again the zebra midge and the grasshopper were the most effective flies.

Buffalo River have cleared and are fishing well. The cooler temperatures have moderated the water temperature. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows and Barr’s meat whistles.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. With wadable water on the White, the crowding here has substantially decreased. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have also been effective. Grasshoppers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The project to enhance fishing on the creek is scheduled to begin soon. The project will include a 130 foot boardwalk to enhance fishing opportunities for handicapped anglers and substantial fish habitat structures designed by Dave Whitlock. This will make the creek more accessible and increase its fish holding capacity.

August 26, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level is at 460.64 and falling as well as the water temp .

A lot of the black basses are moving back shallow and eating jigs top water baits and the like, the deeper fish are still eating football heads and texas rigged worms as well as c-rigged lizards

Walleye should be getting better with the colder weather up on us ,try dragging crawlers in the 23-27 feet range and use crankbaits for the suspended fish, these first few cold fronts it will be tough on the bite but it should get better real soon

Bream are eating crawlers and crickets from on the bank out to about 24 feet now., out in the deeper water try tightlinning them

The catfish are still eating well , try the jugs , use leaders 15-20 feet deep over 30-40 feet of water on the sides of channels as they will roam around out of the deeper water to feet at night and any low light conditions try bream ,soap and just about any bait you are comfortable with

The hybrids and whites are still schooling quite a bit , but the better constant bit is deeper on points and structure , with spoons and in-line spinners , the night bite is going away and the day bite will be even better real soon, get out and catch ya some.

Tommy Cauley

August 25, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 24 August, Largemouth Bass remain very good early and late in the day. Surface water temps are currently in the upper 80's to the lower 90's. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks. Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-5 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Crazy Shads and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks. Schooling Bass have been caught in Little River recently in very large schools chasing shad.

Boat ramps at various locations are closed due to lake level during drawdown. Yarborough is still open, although extremely shallow. Other ramps around Millwood are also shallow. Wilton Landing on Hwy 71 is still open and gravel has been added by the USACE, to the end of the ramp to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown!

As of Monday, 24 August the lake level has virtually reached the drawdown pool, and is approx 3.8 feet below normal pool, and falling due to 4 foot draw down now in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 85ºF early to 90ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 24 Aug, is 255.4 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 861 CFS is with 13 gates open at 0.5 feet each and 1 sluice gates open at 6 feet each. Main lake visibility is approx 6-10" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 228.59 feet. The river clarity is improved due to recent reduction in current and discharge at the dam, approx 6-12". High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The past week's cold front passed through have stabilized surface temperatures and improved the feeding activity of Bass. Surface temps stabilized over the past week and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 10 or 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Largemouth Bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day.

Best bass bite over the past week continues to be on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps in Transparent, Millwood Magic, and Spring Bream colors are working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows. Many pods of schooling fish have been found over the past week with congregation of bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads. Chrome/black Crazy Shads, Rat-L-Traps, and clear Baby Torpedoes continue working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation for these schooling bass. Majority of schooling bass are ranging from 1-3 pounds each, however, occasionally a school of 3-6 pound fish can be located chasing shad in the river.

Medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads, in white shad, or citrus shad colors or shad patterns, are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high and bearing down, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 8" magnum lizard in Camouflage, Redbug, or Green Pumpkin colors; 10" worms in June Bug, Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, June Bug/Red or Plum colors, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water, although frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River, especially at creek mouth junctions. Cranks are many times finding these schools of larger bass before any surface activity is being observed.

Siefert's buzz baits in Chartreuse Grasshopper, Casper Ghost, or Blue Glimmer Shad colors, and spinner baits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, continue working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom or Crystal Shad and Silver Ghost colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad or Twitch Assassins wacky rigged.

White Bass: As of Monday 24 August, schooling White Bass reappeared over the past week between Yarborough point and Bee Lake. These schooling Whites were very aggressive hitting Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic and curly tail grubs on jigheads.

Crappie: As of Monday, Crappie are improving on shiners and jigs with the improvement to water clarity with the reduced current. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, are working in 12-15' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or in planted brush piles along Little River.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Boat ramps at various locations are closed due to lake level during drawdown. Yarborough is still open, although extremely shallow. Other ramps around Millwood are also shallow. Wilton Landing on Hwy 71 is still open and gravel has been added by the USACE, to the end of the ramp to assist loading and unloading boats and trailers. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown!

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

Mike

August 22, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - We have had a significant rain event. The lakes on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell four tenths of a foot to rest at five tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths feet to rest at one and four tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and six tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell seven tenths of a foot to rest at two tenths of a foot below power pool or nine and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White has been for no generation in the morning and occasionally no generation at night. The flows have been heavy in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for drift and wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen six tenths of a foot to rest at one foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty seven feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined significantly, which has created some quality wading.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers began installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam on August 17, 2009. This work is being done at low water levels and is scheduled to take forty five days to complete. It should provide reliable wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. At this time, we do not know how high the new habitat structures will sit in the water. There was a lot of discussion that this project would be completed quickly, substantially before the allotted time is over. However, a significant amount of the cedar trees being used for bank stabilization were observed being washed down stream when the generation was kicked up to four and a half generators the other day. It appears that they had not been properly anchored. If you are boating and observe any of the habitat materials in the river near you, carefully avoid them to prevent damage to your boat or motor.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been quite good for the last week. We have had periods of no generation each morning that have fished particularly well. The trick is to avoid the areas where the construction is active. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot flies have been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. Use long 4X tippets and large split shot (AAA) to get the flies down to the bottom. Be very careful when drifting in this area. There are some significant obstacles to navigation (the new habitat) that were not here last week.

Wildcat Shoals has been another hot spot. While the black zebra midges have been the go to nymph, the hot flies have been the partridge and orange soft hackle and the green butt.

Rim Shoals has been extremely productive this past week. The lower flows, which lasted until late afternoon, have been fishing particularly well and we have had some days with wadable water. The hot fly has been the zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen. The lower flows have also been near perfect for fishing grasshoppers. The trout are certainly looking up and keying in on these large morsels. Try Dave’s hoppers in size 10 or Rainey’s hoppers in size 8. Use a stiff nine foot six weight rod to cast these larger flies. A nine foot leader tippet combination will turn the fly over easily. While the fly is drifting downstream, twitch it occasionally, to trigger a vicious strike.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are muddy and off color. Give them a few days to clear.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. We have been getting a substantial period of wadable water daily. With wadable water on the White, the crowding here has decreased. Generation for the rest of the day was near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have also been effective. Grasshoppers have also been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). If possible, have your child wear waders (you can rent a pair for a modest fee at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop). While there are places to fish from the bank, this will allow you to access more of the creek. Carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on. I use my boat net. The fish are huge! Do not forget the camera.

August 18, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - 08/18/09 Norfork Lake level is around 553’ and looking good. The water temp is in the mid 80 degrees. Crappie fishing is fair in about 15-20 of water around the brush piles using live bait. Striper fishing is good in the mornings a few are being caught in the evenings using live bait and roadrunners. Walleye fishing has been fair using a spoon in 40-50 feet of water, some days they will have lock jaw and you won’t even get a boo out of them. Bass fishing has been good for some using a spoon in 40’ of water jigging it off the bottom and a jig and worm has also been doing good. Sunfish fishing is good using worms, crickets and wax worms in most coves. White bass fishing is good using rooster tails and small spinner baits finding them is the challenge. Cat fishing has been good using worms. Have fun Go Fishin.

August 18, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level is at 460.71 and falling with generation for power in the afternoon as the lake is at 0.32 below normal at present. And the generation will continue as needed for power

The bass fishing continues be be good deep and shallow as well brush and drops from 15-40 feet deep are producing and some fish are hanging around 6-15 feet of water and biting topwater baits, swim baits spinnerbaits and jigs and jighead worms. The deeper fish are biting texas rigged worms , jigs , c-rigs and football heads

Crappie fishing is good in the pole timber and over brushpiles on minnows and jigs in 15-20 feet of water and at nights under lights as well at the sane depth.

Bream fishing is excellent on crickets and crawlers shallow and as deep as 27 feet of water.

Catfishing is good on jugs and trotlines as well as rod and reels all over the lake on just about any type of baits.

Walleye are still slow for some reason but some are biting crankbaits and crawlers drug on the bottom on in 23-27 feet of water on jigheads and crawler rigs.

The white bass and hybrid bass are schooling all over the and can be caught with topwater baits swim baits and swimming a bucktail jig. Some of the schools of whites and hybrids are small but have the better fish under them and they can be caught letting the bucktail and swim baits fall deeper in the water and swimming it back to the boat, and drop a spoon in them or use and in-line spinner vertical

Tommy Cauley

August 18, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 17 August, Largemouth Bass remain very good early and late in the day. Surface water temps are currently in the upper 80's to the lower 90's. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks. Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-5 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Buzz baits, Baby Torpedos, Pop-R's, Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks. Schooling Bass have been caught in Little River recently in very large schools chasing shad.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps.

Boat ramps at various locations are closed due to lake level during drawdown. Yarborough is still open, although extremely shallow. Other ramps operated by the USACE are also shallow. Use extreme caution due to shallow ramps and siltation / sedimentation and drop offs at the end of ramps, lake wide during the drawdown!

As of Monday, 17 August the lake level is approx 3.1 feet below normal pool, and falling due to 4 foot draw down now in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 85ºF early to 90ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 17 Aug, is 256.09 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 6,458 CFS is with 13 gates open at 1.5 feet each and 2 sluice gates open at 6 feet each. Gate changes expected this week, to accomplish the 4 foot drawdown reduction from normal pool elevation and the incoming rain accumulation from last week. Main lake visibility is approx 5-6" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 232.13 feet. The river clarity is approx 3-5" due to current. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

A drawdown of four feet (to 255.2 feet) on Millwood Lake, began July 13, 2009 until Feb. 9, 2010 to control unwanted aquatic vegetation and make scheduled repairs, according to the Corps of Engineers. The lake will be allowed to refill 2 feet above normal pool elevation to 261.2 feet, in February 2010, the 2-foot rise will last one month, and then the lake will be returned to normal pool.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The past 2 week's rain and fresh water inflow are slowing the drawdown now in effect. Surface temps stablized over the past week and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 10 or 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Largemouth Bass are still being found all along Little River at random most any time of day.

Best bass bite over the past week continues to be on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps in Transparent, Millwood Magic, and Spring Bream colors are working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows. Many pods of schooling fish have been found over the past week with congregation of bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads. Clear Baby Torpedoes, Rat-L-Traps, and Pop R;s continue working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation.

Siefert's buzz baits in Baby Blue Gill, Kudzu, or Chartreuse Grasshopper colors, and spinner baits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, continue working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom or Crystal Shad and Silver Ghost colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad or Twitch Assassins wacky rigged.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Texas Craw or Chartreuse- Chestnut colors continue to take keeper bass in the 3-4 lb class. Short, 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig worms are catching good fish in the river on stumps. Keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms and lizards in blue moccasin, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees continue to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: No report as of Monday 17 August. Schooling White Bass disappeared over the past week.

Crappie: As of Monday, Crappie bite still slow due to muddy water inflow and current. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, and live shiners were the best lures and baits over past couple weeks in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17-25' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or in planted brush piles along Little River prior to all the rain.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

Mike

August 13, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - JOHN BERRY FISHING REPORT 8/15/2009

We have had a rain event and cooler temperatures. The lakes on the White River system continue their fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and six tenths feet to rest nine tenths of a foot above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is forty and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose eight tenths feet to rest at two feet above power pool or fourteen feet below the top of flood pool. The rise on Table Rock is due to the draw down of Beaver Lake , which fell two and seven tenths of a foot to rest at nine tenths of a foot above power pool or eight and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting significantly lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and limited wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen one and one tenth foot to rest at one and six tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty six and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined, which has created some quality wading. The current estimate for all lakes to be at power pool is August 17, 2009.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers was scheduled to begin installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam on or around August 1, 2009. This project has been postponed until August 17, 2009 in order for the lakes to be drawn down. This work will be done at low water levels and is scheduled to take forty five days to complete. It should provide reliable wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. At this time, we do not know how high the new habitat structures will sit in the water. They have begun staging construction materials and have put a construction trailer office on site. It looks like this project should on schedule.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been quite good for the last week. We have had some low flows that lasted through the morning that have fished particularly well. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. The hot fly has been the black zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. Use long 4X tippets and large split shot (AAA) to get the flies down to the bottom. The habitat work is to begin on Monday and I do not know how that will affect fishing in this area.

Rim Shoals has been red hot this past week. The lower flows have lasted until late afternoon and have been fishing particularly well. The hot fly has been the zebra midge with silver wire and silver bead in size sixteen. The lower flows have also been near perfect for fishing grasshoppers. The trout are certainly looking up and keying in on these large morsels. Try Dave’s hoppers in size 10 or Rainey’s hoppers in size 8. Use a stiff nine foot six weight rod to cast these larger flies. A nine foot leader tippet combination will turn the fly over easily. While the fly is drifting downstream twitch it occasionally to trigger a vicious strike. As the flows increase, the action has moved to the lower section of the area, White Shoals. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in cerise and hot pink.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared some and are fishing well. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows, Barr’s Meat whistles and large woolly buggers. If we get much rain, these streams muddy and rise quickly.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. We have been getting a substantial period of wadable water daily. Generation for the rest of the day was near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges, Norfork beadheads in black or olive and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Soft hackles like the green butt and the partridge and orange have also been effective. Grasshoppers have been producing. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). The Dry Run Creek enhancement project was dedicated this week. This is a major project designed to enhance the fish holding capacity, increase the access for children and make the creek more accessible for the handicapped. At certain times, the fishing will be adversely affected during this construction.

August 12, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry lake is at 461.35 and falling , they are generating in the afternoons pretty much 7 days a week .

The whites and hybrids continue to be good schooling in the mornings and afternoons in various spots all over the lake they could come up at any place or any time and if your close and not a lot of boats around to bother them can catch quite a few , keep your electronics turned off looking for schoolers as it will bother them and especially if a lot of boats are around it will keep them very leery and always does, try small top water baits the shore minnow , and smaller baits. When they go down try spoons –inline spinners and hair jigs. When the generation starts use the hair jigs , spoons and in-line spinners, vertical and catch them and that is where your electronics come into play ,try and learn all you can about them before you hit the water and if you can not figure it out don’t be afraid to call someone for help, it will really pay off in the long run.

The bass fishing is good night and day , on and around brush piles anywhere from 15-45 feet of water on texas rigged worms , c-rigs and football heads, try buzzbaits and top water as well as spinnerbaits early and late and at night , during the day fishing slow is the key.

Crappie are suspended biting minnows and jigs over brush piles in 15-40 feet of water and in pole timber and at night use lights in pole timber with minnows.

The walleye are slow.

Bream just spawned again and will be headed out to deep water again try 20—30 feet deep with crawlers and crickets.

Catfish are biting all over the lake on all baits night and day.

Tommy Cauley

August 11, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 10 August, Largemouth Bass remain very good early and late in the day. Surface water temps are currently in the upper 80's to the lower 90's. Schooling bass are being caught in Little River over last several weeks. Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-9 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Buzz baits, Baby Torpedos, Pop-R's, Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks. Schooling Bass have been caught in Little River recently in very large schools chasing shad.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps.

As of Monday, 10 August the lake level is approx 2.73 feet below normal pool, and falling due to 4 foot draw down now in effect. Main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 85ºF early to 90ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 10 Aug, is 256.47 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 8,583 CFS is with 13 gates open 2 feet each and 2 sluice gates open at 6 feet each. Gate changes expected this week, to accomplish the 4 foot drawdown reduction from normal pool elevation and the incoming rain accumulation from last week. Main lake visibility is approx 3-5" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 233.02 feet. The river clarity is approx 2-5" due to current. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on Millwood Lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The past 2 week's cool fronts and rain which passed through southern Arkansas, have brought a much sought after relief to the heat from the past month, in addition to slowing the drawdown now in effect. Surface temps dropped again over the past week a few more degrees and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 10 or 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Largemouth Bass can be found all along Little River at random most any time of day.

Best bass bite over the past week continues to be on Cordell Crazy Shads, Big O crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Shad Daddy, and Transparent colors are working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows. Many pods of schooling fish have been found over the past week with congregation of bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads. Clear Baby Torpedoes, Rat-L-Traps, and Pop R;s are working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation.

Medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads, in white shad, or citrus shad colors or shad patterns, are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high, and bearing down, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 8" magnum lizard or 10" worm in Black, Blue Fleck, Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, or Plum, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water, although frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River.

Siefert's buzz baits in Holographic Smokey Shad, Firecracker, or Electric Thunderstorm colors, and spinner baits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, are working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins. Lizards in watermelon-reds or Moccasin/Blue Glitter colors are catching good keeper size 16" fish. Gitzits and 4" tubes in smoke-black/red flake or pumpkinseed w/ chartreuse tail, or purple smoke colors, in the back of the oxbows, where water clarity is better, are working also.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, stumps and laydowns. Texas Craw, Chartreuse Chestnut, or Bleeding Craw colors continue to take keeper bass in the 3-4 lb class. Short, 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig worms are catching good fish in the river on stumps. Keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms and lizards in blue moccasin, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass willing to bite almost anything you put in their face, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees continue to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: No report as of Monday 10 August. Schooling White Bass disappeared over the past week.

Channel Cats: Channel Cats continue biting well on cut shad, hot dogs, Charlie, and chicken livers on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12' depths, and on trotlines in Little River current.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved away from current and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

Wear your Life Jacket!! If you are suddenly or unexpectedly thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival. Use caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, SLOW DOWN, and pass friendly to other boaters! As always, careful watch for any random floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD and kill switch is a requirement!!

Mike

August 5, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - We have had a rain event and warmer temperatures. The lakes on the White River system are continuing to fall. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell two feet to rest at two and five tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty eight and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake rose nine tenths feet to rest at one and two tenths feet above power pool or fourteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The rise is due to the draw down of Beaver Lake which fell two and two tenths of a foot to rest at three and six tenths feet above power pool or six feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting lower flows. The flows have been much heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and limited wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen four tenths of a foot to rest at two and seven tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty five and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined, which has created some limited wading in the morning. The current estimate for all lakes to be at power pool is August 17, 2009.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers was scheduled to begin installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam on or around August 1, 2009. This project has been postponed until August 17, 2009 in order for the lakes to be drawn down. This work will be done at low water levels and should take about two months to complete. It should provide some wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. At this time, we do not know how high the new habitat structures will sit in the water. If we receive heavy rains in the next few weeks it could jeopardize the ability of the project to be implemented this year.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been quite good for the last week. Early in the day we have had some low flows that have fished particularly well. Midge patterns have been the ticket on lower flows. Later in the day, when we get heavier flows, the most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. Use long 4X tippets and large split shot (AAA) to get the flies down to the bottom.

Rim Shoals has been red hot this past week. The lower flows have lasted until mid afternoon and have been fishing particularly well. As the flows increase, the action has moved to the lower section of the area, White Shoals. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in cerise and hot pink. This is the one place that has wadable water as long as the flows are below 17,000 cubic feet per second. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout Dock and take advantage of their water taxi. For a nominal fee, they will drop you off at wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to leave.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have cleared some and are fishing well. The hot flies have been Clouser minnows, Barr’s Meat whistles and large woolly buggers. If we get much rain, these streams muddy and rise quickly.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. We have been getting a substantial period of wadable water daily. Generation for the rest of the day was near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. The upper river at Quarry Park has fished particularly well. Try black zebra midges or partridge and Dan’s turkey tail emerger. Grasshoppers have also been producing. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator. This past week enforcement officers from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have been observed at Quarry Park and at the Ackerman access. We appreciate their presence.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). As the weather heats up this is a great place to cool off. The creek is in a tight valley with a lot of cover. It is always several degrees cooler than the rest of the area. The most effective technique is to high stick nymphs below a strike indicator. There is precious little room to cast. Bring your lunch and make a day of it.

August 5, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level at greers ferry is at 462.04 and falling .

The white bass and hybrid bass are eating it up on top and as good when they go back down and can be caught on several different baits , small top waters ,grubs and bucktail jigs , and when they go down on spoons and in-line spinners , try from the top down to 55 feet of water , after they go down use your electronics and try and stay on top of them and you can catch them all day.

The bass fishing is good in brushpiles and some have even moved back shallow after the cooler weather , try texas rigged worms, jigs and jighead worms, try topwater baits earily and late and spinnerbaits on wind blown points and secondary points as well as rattle traps, for the deeper fish try football heads and c-riggs and texas rigged worms .

Crappie are biting well all over the lake , but you cannot use a jig pole you will have to use a spinning rod and reel to fish for them in 15-25 feet of water in the pole timber and over brush piles use minnows and jigs.

No –report on walleye other than they are following hybrids and whites around eating under them

Catfishing is considered good all over the lake on just about any type of catfish bait.

Tommy Cauley

August 5, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

As of Monday 03 August, Largemouth Bass remain very good early and late in the day. Surface water temps are currently in the upper 80's to the lower 90's. Schooling fish are being caught seen in Little River over last several weeks. Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-9 pounds are in typical summertime patterns. Buzz baits, Baby Torpedos, Pop-R's, Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks. Schooling Bass have been caught in Little River recently in very large schools chasing shad.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps.

As of Monday, 03 August the lake level is approx 1.6 feet below normal pool, and falling due to 4 foot draw down now in effect. The lake rose over the past week due to influx of almost 12" of rainfall. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 85ºF early to 90ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 03 Aug, is 257.58 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 8,583 CFS is with 13 gates open 2 feet each and 2 sluice gates open at 6 feet each to compensate incoming rainfall and lake rise. Gate changes are expected all week to accomplish the 4 foot drawdown reduction from normal pool elevation and the incoming rain accumulation from last week. Main lake visibility is approx 3-5" away from any current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 233.61 feet. The river clarity is approx 2-5" due to current. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The past 2 week's cool fronts and rain which passed through southern Arkansas, have brought a much sought after relief to the heat from the past month, in addition to slowing the drawdown now in effect. Surface temps dropped again over the past week a few more degrees and the bass continue to be in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 10 or 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. However, schooling Black/Largemouth and White Bass can be found all along Little River at random most any time of day.

Best bass bite over the past week continues to be on Baby Torpedoes, Cordell Crazy Shads, Baby Minus One or Big O crank baits, YUM Buzz Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps in Diamond Dust, Shad Daddy, and Transparent colors are working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows. Many pods of schooling fish have been found over the past week with congregation of bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and Yum Buzz Frogs are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads. Baby Torpedoes, Rat-L-Traps, and Pop R;s are working around the edges of lily pads and vegetation.

Medium running depth crankbaits like the Cordell Big O, or Fat Free Shads, in white shad, or citrus shad colors and Big O or Baby Minus One cranks in chrome or shad patterns, are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high, and bearing down, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 10" worm in Black, Blue Fleck, Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, or Plum, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water, although frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River.

Siefert's buzz baits in Firecracker, Bleeding Metallica, or Holographic Smokey Shad colors, and spinnerbaits in Spot Remover and Hot Mouse colors continue working around grass beds and vegetation in the river channel and in the oxbows, at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, are working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass at creek junctions with the river. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Yum Buzz Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins. Lizards in watermelon-reds or Moccasin/Blue Glitter colors are catching good keeper size 16" fish. Gitzits and 4" tubes in smoke-black/red flake or pumpkinseed w/ chartreuse tail, or purple smoke colors, in the back of the oxbows, where water clarity is better, are working also.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, and stumps. Texas craw, Chestnut/Chartreuse, or Bleeding Craw colors continue to take keeper bass in the 3-4 lb class. Short, 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig worms are catching good fish in the river on stumps. Also, keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms in black, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass willing to bite almost anything you put in their face, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees seem to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: Improved over the past week and were found schooling in Little River with Largemouths chasing huge shad schools, between Jack's Isle and Yarborough.

Crappie: As of Monday, Crappie bite worsened with the increase in muddy water inflow and current. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, and live shiners were the best lures and baits over past couple weeks in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17-25' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or in planted brush piles along Little River prior to all the rain.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation and at boat ramps.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE began the four foot drawdown 13 July, and stumps are exposed along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010. Use caution near end of boat ramps.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff remained closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

Mike

July 30, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - We have had several rain events and moderate temperatures (low to mid eighties). The lakes on the White River system are continuing to fall at an increasing rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and eight tenths feet to rest at four and five tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty six and five tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell seven tenths feet to rest at two tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell four tenths of a foot to rest at five and eight tenths feet above power pool or three and eight tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows. The flows have been heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and extremely limited wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen one and two tenths of a foot to rest at three and one tenth feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty four and nine tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined, which has created some limited wading in the morning. The recent rains have slowed the rate of drop on the lakes. In addition, the Corps of Engineers has decided to draw down Beaver Lake five feet. The current estimate for all lakes to be at power pool is August 17, 2009.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers was scheduled to begin installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam on or around August 1, 2009. This project has been postponed until August 17, 2009 in order for the lakes to be drawn down. This work will be done at low water levels and should take about two months to complete. It should provide some wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. At this time, we do not know how high the new habitat structures will sit in the water. If we receive heavy rains in the next few weeks it could jeopardize the ability of the project to be implemented this year.

The fishing in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been a bit spotty for the last week. Some days have been excellent and some have been slow. The most effective technique has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange) below strike indicators. Use long 4X tippets and large split shot (AAA) to get the flies down to the bottom. Several anglers were caught fishing with bait and barbed hooks here in the last week. This is illegal and we applaud the enforcement agents from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for protecting this area.

Rim Shoals has fished well this past week. The lower flows have been fishing particularly well. As the flows increase, the action has moved to the lower section of the area, White Shoals. The hot flies have been San Juan worms in cerise and hot pink. This is the one place that has wadable water as long as the flows are below 17,000 cubic feet per second. Stop by Rim Shoals Trout Dock and take advantage of their water taxi. For a nominal fee, they will drop you off at wadable water and pick you up when you are ready to leave.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have run high and off color since the recent rains. Give it a few days to clear.

The Norfork River has fished a bit better this week. There were a few days with a substantial period of wadable water. Generation for the rest of the day was near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges or partridge and orange soft hackles. Grasshoppers have also been producing. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator. If you are not in the Catch and Release section, consider using a size fourteen black zebra midge as a dropper.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns (orange). If your favorite spot is occupied, just walk up and down the creek until you locate a good spot. There are fish everywhere. While you are there, take a few minutes and tour the National Fish hatchery. It is fascinating. There are also restroom facilities and a soft drink machine there. Be sure to remove your waders before entering the hatchery grounds to prevent the spread of aquatic diseases.

July 28, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - 07/27/09 Norfork Lake level is around 555’ MSL and the surface temperature is 82-84 degrees. Fishing has been good this past week for the most part. Striper are being caught early mornings using live bait and spoons. Catfish are doing well using crawlers and small bluegills on rod and reel, trotlines and jug fishing. Sunfish have been good using crickets and worms. Bass fishing has been good using an array of baits from crank baits to your favorite rubber bait and a jig. Walleye fishing has been good using live bait, spoons and trolling crank baits. White bass fishing has been fair. Crappie fishing is fair. Have Fun Go Fishin.

July 23, 2009 - White River - Submitted by Berry Brothers Guides - We have had two significant rain events and unseasonably cool temperatures (the high was 71 degrees one day). The lakes on the White River system are continuing to fall but at an ever decreasing rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam fell one and two tenths feet to rest at six and three tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is thirty four and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Up stream, Table Rock Lake fell six tenths feet to rest at nine tenths of a foot above power pool or fifteen and one tenth feet below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake fell five tenths of a foot to rest at six and two tenths feet above power pool or three and four tenths feet below the top of flood pool. The pattern on the White was for round the clock generation. During the night and morning we have been getting slightly lower flows. The flows have been heavier in the afternoon during peak power demand. This created some challenging conditions for drift fishing and very limited wade fishing. Norfork Lake has fallen one and one tenth foot to rest at four and three tenths feet above power pool of 552.00 feet or twenty three and seven tenths feet below the top of flood pool. Generation on the Norfork has declined, which has created some limited wading in the morning. The recent rains have slowed my prediction for wadable water. My best guess is that there will be wadable water in two weeks.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers is scheduled to begin installing fish habitat designed to provide cover for juvenile trout in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam on or around August 1, 2009. This work will be done at low water levels and should take about two months to complete. It should provide some wadable water on the White River during this time. There is some concern that the habitat will create navigational hazards for river boats at low levels of generation. At this time, we do not know how high the new habitat structures will sit in the water.

The Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam has fished well this past week. There were a few days when the White was muddied from runoff caused by the recent rains. The best place to always find clear water is directly below Bull Shoals dam. The flows have been a bit lower this week due to higher water levels down stream. On these flows, the hot flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot pink and red) and egg patterns (orange).

The section from White Hole to Cotter has been fishing well this week. The most effective technique has been to bang the bank with large streamers. The hot flies have been Kelly Gallop zoo cougars and other similar oversized streamers. The secret is to get the fly down. With the heavier flows, you must use heavy full sinking or sink tip lines. To cast these huge flies and heavy lines, most anglers are using eight weight or larger rods. Another effective technique has been to bang the bank with grass hoppers. The secret is to get the fly close to the bank and to achieve a perfect drag free float. Twitch the fly occasionally to initiate violent takes.

Rim Shoals has fished well this past week. The lower flows have been fishing particularly well. As the flows increase, the action has moved to the lower section of the area, White Shoals. The hot flies on lower flows have been black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads. On higher flows the hot flies have been San Juan worms in cerise and hot pink.

Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River have run high and off color since the recent rains. Give it a few days to clear.

The Norfork River has been a bit slow this week. There has been a bit of wadable water early. Generation for the rest of the day is near maximum levels. On low water, small midge patterns have been the ticket. Try black zebra midges or Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Grasshoppers have also been producing. On high water, the most effective tactic is to fish brightly colored San Juan worms or egg patterns under an indicator. If you are not in the Catch and Release section, consider using a size fourteen black zebra midge as a dropper.

Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. The hot fly, as always, has been the sowbug. Other hot flies have been worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns. There is a lot of overhead cover from trees on the creek which allows very little room for casting. The best technique is to high stick nymphs under a strike indicator. Be sure and use heavy tippet (4X or larger) in order to land some of the larger fish. Carry the biggest net you can lay your hands on. A long handled boat net is best. Do not forget the camera!

July 21, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait - 07/21/09 Norfork Lake Arkansas is the place to be! The water level is good at 556’ MSL and the water temp. is in the mid to upper 80 degrees. Water clarity is around 20 feet. And the weather is great with day time air temps in the low to mid 80 degrees. Fishing is doing good. Bluegill is good using crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows fished around 30-35 feet. Striped Bass fishing is good using live bait and jigging spoons fishing deep, 50 feet and deeper. Walleye fishing is good using live bait and spoons fished around 30-45 feet. Bass fishing for Largemouth and smallmouth has been good. White bass fishing is fair there has been some good top water fishing but they have been moving a lot. Catfish fishing is fair, jugs and trot lines are having the better results. The best fishing has been early morning and in the evening. There was a 46 lb striper caught over the weekend using a jigging spoon fished in 58 feet of water just off the bottom. Some nice Walleye in the 7-9 pound range are being caught. Crappie size has been 12-16 inches. Bluegills have been in the 10-14 inch size. What can I say, it’s Norfork Lake and it is beautiful. Have Fun Go Fishin. 07/21/09 Norfork Lake Arkansas is the place to be! The water level is good at 556’ MSL and the water temp. is in the mid to upper 80 degrees. Water clarity is around 20 feet. And the weather is great with day time air temps in the low to mid 80 degrees. Fishing is doing good. Bluegill is good using crickets and worms. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows fished around 30-35 feet. Striped Bass fishing is good using live bait and jigging spoons fishing deep, 50 feet and deeper. Walleye fishing is good using live bait and spoons fished around 30-45 feet. Bass fishing for Largemouth and smallmouth has been good. White bass fishing is fair there has been some good top water fishing but they have been moving a lot. Catfish fishing is fair, jugs and trot lines are having the better results. The best fishing has been early morning and in the evening. There was a 46 lb striper caught over the weekend using a jigging spoon fished in 58 feet of water just off the bottom. Some nice Walleye in the 7-9 pound range are being caught. Crappie size has been 12-16 inches. Bluegills have been in the 10-14 inch size. What can I say, it’s Norfork Lake and it is beautiful. Have Fun Go Fishin.

July 21, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level at greers ferry is at 462.02 and rising as we had 5 inches of rain a total of 7 for the month of july and it is rising and the temp has fell several degrees and should help the bite over all after the initial shock .

The bass fishing is good in and around brushpiles in 15-40 feet of water with texas rigged worms and c-rigged lizards some fish should run back to the bank with the rising water , top water baits , buzzbaits , spinnerbaits on windy banks, as well as jigs and jighead worms will work for all species.

Crappie are biting well in the pole timber and over brushpile in 15-30 feet of water on jigs and minnows.

Bream are eating crickets and crawlers as well as small minnows from shallow to deep water as deep as 40 feet.

Walleye are scattered especially with the rising water , but do try dragging crawlers in 27 feet to 40 feet of water on jig heads.

Catfish are biting well all over the lake lots and lots of fish being caught small to big ones.

Hybrids and white bass are hit and miss with the best action on spoons and in-line spinners and hair jigs for suspended fish during the day and minnows at night under the lights, lots of fish biting and healthy .

Tommy Cauley

July 20, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation.

As of Monday 20 July, Largemouth Bass are good and best early and late in the day. Surface water temps are currently in the upper 80's to the lower 90's. Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-9 pounds are in normal routine summer patterns. Buzz baits, Shad Assassins, Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks. Schooling Bass have been caught in Little River recently.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE has began the four foot drawdown, and stumps are beginning to be exposed at a rapid pace along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010.

As of Monday, 20 July the lake level is approx 2.14 feet below normal pool, and falling due to 4 foot draw down now in effect. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 87ºF early to 90ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 20 July, is 257.06 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the 4' drawdown is in process and discharge of 6,397 CFS with 6 gates open 1 foot each and 7 gates open at 2 feet each. Gate changes are expected all week to accomplish the 4 foot drawdown reduction from normal pool elevation. Main lake visibility approx 8-10" away from any remaining current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 231.72 feet. The river clarity is approx 7-8" due to current. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff are closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: This past week's cool front passed through southern Arkansas and brought a much sought after relief to the heat from the past month. Surface temps dropped a few degrees and the bass are in a much more aggressive mood chasing shad schools. Bass are in typical seasonal summer patterns on Millwood and are steadily improving their appetites, early and late in the day.

The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 10 or 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. Best bass bite over the past week has been on buzz baits, crank baits, YUM Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Shad Daddy, and Purple Haze colors are still working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows. Many pods of schooling fish have been found over the past week with congregation of bass schools near most any creek mouth junction with Little River, in the lily pads and any remaining vegetation. The Bass Assassin Shads, Johnson spoons, Heddon baby Moss Bosses in white, and spinnerbaits are working around these vegetation areas where the fish are schooling in the lily pads.

Medium running depth crankbaits like Bomber or Excalibur cranks in brown back/orange belly crawfish or white shad, or citrus shad colors and Big O cranks in chrome, are taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high, and bearing down, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 10" worm in Black, Blue Fleck, Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, or Plum, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water, although frequent schooling activity may start or stop any time during the day along Little River.

Siefert's buzz baits in Firecracker, Casper Ghost, or Bleeding Bluegill colors, and spinnerbaits in Aurora, Sparkling Chartreuse Mouse, or Spot Remover colors continue working around grass beds on the main lake and in the oxbows, up Little River at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, are working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 16-20" Largemouths, and Senkos, trick worms, or charms, wacky rigged, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins, and also 5" to 7" Salty Rat Tails, wacky rigged. Lizards in watermelon-reds or Moccasin/Blue Glitter colors are catching good keeper size 16" fish. Gitzits and 4" tubes in smoke-black/red flake or pumpkinseed w/ chartreuse tail, or purple smoke colors, in the back of the oxbows, where water clarity is better, are working also.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, and stumps. Texas craw, metallic amber-chartreuse, or black/red continue to take a few bass in the 3-4 lb class. Good limits can be caught of 16-17" fish on short 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig worms. Nice sized, keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms in black, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass willing to bite almost anything you put in their face, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees seem to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: Improved over the past week and were found schooling in Mud and Horseshoe oxbow lakes.

Crappie: continue to bite fair, as of Monday. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, and live shiners continue to be best lures and bait over past couple weeks in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17-25' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or in planted brush piles along Little River.

Channel Cats: Channel Cats are biting well on cut shad, hot dogs, Charlie, and chicken livers on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12' depths, and on trotlines in Little River.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are well below normal. 4 Foot Drawdown in process. Use Extreme Caution during Navigation.

Exercise extreme caution during running Little River during low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE has began the four foot drawdown, and stumps are beginning to be exposed at a rapid pace along the river. This four foot drawdown will remain in effect until February 2010.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at lower Beards Bluff are closed for camping on Millwood being cleaned and repaired.

During the 4' drawdown, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas have begun to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

Mike

July 20, 2009 - Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Steve Olomon of Steve's Guide Service - The water temperature is still in the mid 80's and the lake level is 556.7. There is a top water bite early and just before sunset for largemouth,smallies and kentuckies. Watch for them busting shad on points. look for fish down 35-40 ft. and drop a jigging spoon. We caught some whites,stripers and some walleye in the same area this week. If you want to catch bass throw a jig or a grub and fish it back to the boat after the top water bite slows but keep your rod on deck. They can come up again at anytime. Good Fishing!!!!!!!!!!

July 14, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The lake level is at 461.86 that is just 0.83 above normal pool but we are getting a pretty good rain here now, but it has still been falling as of late.

Did get a good crappie report the day before yesterday and they are for sure on the feed in the pole timber in 15-20 feet of water suspended and can be caught with jigs or minnows or brush piles in the same depth

No report on walleye at present

The bass fishing is good in brush piles 15-40 feet deep with big worms and c-riggs , as well as spinnerbaits fished over them, or if it is a tough bite scale down to a shakeyhead worm and fish slow.

Bream are still biting on crickets and crawlers all over the lake.

Catfish are the same way , they are biting well on crawlers off the bank to bream fished off shore on jugs and lines , this lake is just full of catfish that do not get fished much at all.

The whites and hybrids are eating it up both at night and during the day , when water is being generated and now that is mostly in the afternoons 4-6 p.m. they are schooling during the day at time but cannot be depended on try humps points etc, with your electronics for the sure bets and if they are not feeding just sit tight on top of them and they will feed throughout the day , on spoons , hair jigs and big and small in-line spinners

Tommy Cauley

July 7, 2009 - Greers Ferry Lake - Submitted by Fish Finders Fish Service - The water level at greers ferry is at 462.71 and that is 1.68 feet over normal pool at this time. Amd falling

The hybrid and white bass are biting real well when they are generating and you have a pretty good chop as well , try spoons spinners and hair jigs 33-44 feet deep, some big fish are being caught right now.

The bass for the most part have left the shallows and are headed or already gotten to their summer hang out, 15-40 feet depp , try texas rigged worms, football heads , c-riggs as well

No –report on crappie

The bream are still shallow and biting real well on crickets and crawlers

Walleye are slow since the big 4th weekend the lake needs to settle some

Catfish are biting just about anywhere you want to wet a hook at present.

The night bite for crappie is good and for whites and hybrids also.

Tommy Cauley

July 7, 2009 - Norfork - Submitted by 101 Grocery and Bait -07/06/09 Norfork Lake water temperature is in the upper 80 degrees to low 90 degrees. Water level is around 559 MSL. The thermalcline is at around 30’ and that is where the fish are hanging out. Crappie fishing is good around the brush piles in 30 feet of water using minnows for bait. Bluegill fishing is good using worms and crickets. Walleye fishing has been good jigging a spoon in the 25-30 feet range. Bass fishing is good. Lizards have been a good bait. White bass fishing is good. Catfish fishing is fair. Striper fishing is slow. The best fishing has been in the mornings and late evenings into the night. Have Fun Go Fishin.

July 6, 2009 - Millwood Lake - Submitted by Millwood Lake Guide Service -

The Overall Picture:

Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.

As of Monday 06 July, Largemouth Bass are good and best early and late in the day. Surface water temps continue to rise into the lower 90's. Largemouth Bass ranging from 2-9 pounds are in normal routine summer patterns. Buzz baits, swimming jigs, Shad Assassins, Senkos, trick worms and plastic frogs are the go to baits for Bass over the past several weeks. Several large bass between 9-12 pounds each, have been caught and released over the past 3-4 weeks and a 10.5 pound Largemouth was weighed in the Bassmaster Weekend Series Tournament on Millwood recently.

Exercise caution during running at low light conditions as there are still numerous river buoy markers pushed out of place from river centerline, or missing, due to recent current and pool fluctuations. USACE will begin replacing/relocating these misplaced or missing river buoys as soon as normal pool elevation is reached.

As of Monday, 06 July the lake level is approx 3.96 inches above normal pool, and falling. The main lake and Little River's water surface temperatures are currently ranging from approx 87ºF early to 92ºF late, depending of course, on location and time of day. Lake level on Millwood as of Monday, 06 July, is 259.53 feet. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet.

As of Monday, the discharge was 172 CFS with 1 gates open 0.4 feet. Main lake visibility approx 10-15" away from any remaining current in Little River. The tailwater elevation is 227.71 feet. The river clarity is approx 15-18" and improving. High winds and / or thunder storms will have a dramatic impact and effect on main lake clarity merely in a matter of hours.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at Beards Bluff are closed for camping on Millwood due to recent lake rise and flooding conditions are being cleaned and repaired.

A drawdown of four feet (to 255.2 feet) on Millwood Lake, will start July 13, 2009 until Feb. 9, 2010 to control unwanted aquatic vegetation and make scheduled repairs, according to the Corps of Engineers. The lake will be allowed to refill 2 feet above normal pool elevation to 261.2 feet, in February 2010, the 2-foot rise will last one month, and then the lake will be returned to normal pool.”

After the drawdown begins, boaters should exercise extreme caution because submerged stumps and shallow areas will begin to appear. Also, boaters should be cautious when launching because of damage or sediment buildup that may have occurred at the ends of the ramps. Boat ramp closures may occur during the drawdown. To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office.

To receive updates, call the Corps’ toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Well folks, its STILL HOT, but the rains early this week have drastically cooled things off and improved the fishing. Summer has arrived in South Arkansas!! Wear your sunscreen and drink plenty of water. Bass are in typical seasonal summer routine patterns on Millwood and are steadily improving their appetites, early and late in the day.

The best bite over the past few weeks is ranging from daylight till about 10 or 11 am, then slower until 6-8pm when the bite improves again. Best bass bite has been on weightless trick worms or wacky rigs in June Bug, grasshopper, or kiwi colors, YUM Frogs, Bass Assassin Shad jerk baits and buzz baits, in the clearest water you can find, around new lily pads, hydrilla, or dollar pads and Pond Weed vegetation. Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Shad Daddy, and Purple Haze colors are working for a good reaction bite in the better water clarity areas of the oxbows.

Medium running depth crankbaits like the Deep Little N's in chrome/blue color, and Bomber or Excalibur cranks in brown back/orange belly crawfish or citrus shad colors and patterns are still taking some keeper size bass in the 3-6 pound class. Once the sun gets up high, and bearing down, the best bass bite option is to switch to a 10" worm in Black, Blue Fleck, Peanut Butter 'n Jelly, or Plum, pitching or flipping stumps, cypress trees, and laydown tree trunks near deep water.

Siefert's buzz baits in Firecracker, Blue Moccasin, or Bleeding Bluegill colors, and spinnerbaits in Aurora, Sparkling Chartreuse Mouse, or Spot Remover colors continue working around grass beds on the main lake and in the oxbows, up Little River at dawn, and again late in the day. Working a Rattling Zara Mouse over big lily pads, are working over deep flats where 2 species of lily pads meet hydrilla or milfoil grass. Soft plastic Bass Assassin Shads and Frogs continue to take decent keeper size 18-20" Largemouths, and Senkos, trick worms, or charms, wacky rigged, around hydrilla, lily pad stems, and pondweed are working especially where you find new dollar pads and lily pads growing in close proximity. Salt 'n Pepper silver phantom colors are best colors working in the clearer water for the Shad Assassins, and also 5" to 7" Salty Rat Tails, wacky rigged. Lizards in watermelon-reds or Moccasin/Blue Glitter colors are catching good keeper size 16" fish. Gitzits and 4" tubes in smoke-black/red flake or pumpkinseed w/ chartreuse tail, or purple smoke colors, in the back of the oxbows, where water clarity is better, are working also.

Jig bite, continues to improve on cypress trees, knees, and stumps. Texas craw, metallic amber-chartreuse, or River Craw / Orange continue to take a few bass in the 3-4 lb class. Good limits can be caught of 16-17" fish on short 4-5" trick worms, v-tails, and 5" purple/fire tail Texas rig worms. Nice sized, keeper size bass, in the 3-7 pound class, have been caught over the past couple weeks on Texas and Carolina rigged worms in black, plum, peanut butter & jelly, or red bug colors. Major or secondary points in Little River are holding good numbers of bass willing to bite almost anything you put in their face, near deep vertical drops or creek mouths adjacent to deeper water. New Dollar Pads and fresh Lily Pad bloom and new growth around hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail w/ stumps and cypress trees seem to be key holding areas for the better size keeper bass.

White Bass: Continue to bite slow.

Crappie: Continue to improve over past week, with less current and muddy water in Little River, as of Monday. Blakemore roadrunners, Southern Pro Crappie Tubes, and live shiners continue to be best lures and bait over past couple weeks in oxbows close to cypress trees in 17-25' depths in close proximity, or in deep creek channels with cypress knees or stumps or in planted brush piles along Little River.

Channel Cats: Channel Cats continue to bite well on cut shad, hot dogs, Charlie, and chicken livers on yo-yo's hung from cypress trees in the oxbows over 8-12' depths, and on trotlines in Little River.

}><(((º> Millwood Lake & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Navigation conditions in Little River are near normal.

Upriver oxbow's clarity is drastically improved with the reduced current and almost normal conservation pool reached and improving daily. Oxbow clarity is ranging from 18-30" dependent upon location.

USACE campground at Beards Bluff are closed for camping on Millwood due to recent lake rise and flooding conditions are being cleaned and repaired.

Mike

July 5, 2009 - Norfork Lake Fishing Report by Steve Olomon of Steve's Guide Service - The water temperature is in the mid 80's and the lake level is 559.9. The lake dropped almost 2 feet this week. Nothing has changed from last week. Keep a top water rod on deck for the fish chasing shad on top and a rod with a spoon for the deeper fish. There are whites,hybrids and stripers down 40ft. Throw a grub or a jig up to the bank and work it along the bottom back to the boat for bass. Try swimming them also. Some fish are coming up just before dark mostly whites, largemouth, smallies and some kentuckies.