East Arkansas Fishing Reports

Local expert anglers offer tips for where they’re biting this fall

Arkansas Wildlife Editor

Cook’s Lake

The AGFC’s Wil Hafner at Cook’s Lake Conservation Education Center (870241-3373) said the fishing was hit and miss last weekend. The bass anglers did fairly well while the crappie anglers struggled. The lake is still cloudy green in color, and although the lake is low, it appears to be stable, which could create a great fishing trip.

“I would focus my efforts on hollow trees in about 6 feet of water,” Wil suggests. “For bass, I would flip green pumpkin or black/red craws or tubes, and for crappie I would use a black and chartreuse Crappie Magnet on an eighth-ounce pink jighead.” Cook’s Lake is a 2-mile long oxbow off of the White River, nestled in the heart of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge near Casscoe in Arkansas

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County. This fertile oxbow receives very little fishing pressure due to being used only for education purposes and youth and mobilityimpaired fishing. The scenic lake is full of slab crappie, giant bluegills, largemouth bass and catfish of all species. Due to current guidelines, Cook’s Lake will be open to fishing during normal business hours Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., water level pending. Cook’s Lake is open to fishing for youths under 16 or mobility- impaired anglers and up to two helpers (who may also fish). Fish from the 140-foot mobility-impaired accessible dock or launch a boat. To comply with current guidelines, please call ahead at least a day in advance to register to fish.

Before launching, please check in at the Conservation Education Center, and report back before leaving. For information

or unscheduled closures, call the center at

870-241-3373. Cook’s Lake’s fishing will continue until waterfowl season

opens in November.

Tyler Ball, park ranger at Mississippi River State Park (870-295-4040), reported that anglers at Bear Creek Lake report catching largemouth bass at depths of approximately 812 feet. Anglers have been using artificial baits to catch largemouth bass.

Anglers also report catching bream in depths of 2-4 feet. Anglers have been using redworms mostly to catch bream. Blue and flathead catfish are also still on the menu! Anglers have been catching catfish on free-floating devices between depths of 3-5 feet deep. Anglers are advising that manmade baits are contributing to their success.

As for Storm Creek Lake, there is very little fishing activity present within this lake, Tyler reports.

(updated 9-9-2021) Kent Williams of Oxbow Guide Service (870-278-7978) said the past couple of weeks has found Horseshoe with a definite thermocline set up. The fish have reacted as they do in late summer with warmer water and a thermocline at 10-12 feet. Crappie are slow at best.

“There are some still being caught but not like the bite we have enjoyed up until mid-August. Check the shady area around the piers and some fish can still be caught in the pads. Fish slow as the fish are slow to bite.” No reports on black bass, catfish or bream.

“We are going to take the next couple of weeks off and get our duck blinds ready for our guests that will hunt with us in the upcoming duck season and get some jig orders filled,” Kent said. “Give me a call

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for some fall fishing in October.”

Dam repair work has been completed by the city of Monticello’s contractor, while the AGFC has been rebuilding the lake bottom and areas near where the shoreline will be for fish habitat when the lake is refilled. Many artificial fish habitat structures have been created and put in place, and the AGFC is pumping several of the small ponds and planning to add rotenone to those areas for the elimination of unwanted species (i.e. grass carp, yellow bass), before the refilling of the lake begins.

(updated 9-23-2021) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said fishing was pretty good during the past week.

Bream fishing was good using worms, crickets and jigs, and bream were relating to the brushpiles, stumps and rocky points.

Crappie were fair on minnows, jigs and worms. Like the bream, the crappie were hanging around brushpiles, stumps and rocky points.

Black bass are good.

Anglers were reporting success with spinnerbaits, plastic worms, topwater lures and worms. They were focusing on brush and rocky points. Catfishing is fair; try blood bait, stink bait or chicken liver. Shelly expects the fishing to be excellent from Oct. 3-9 based on the favorable moon times. Good fishing also should be expected Oct. 17-23. Stop in the Visitor Center and let her know how your fishing has been going.

Seth Boone, park superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, says that while Lake Poinsett is still refilling, you can catch and release bream. Kayaks and canoes are recommended at this time, as the lake is still 8-8.5 feet from being at full pool. Poinsett is rainfalldependent when it comes to refilling, The gate at the dam at Lake Poinsett was closed last Dec. 1, following the completion of a three-year renovation projection, and the lake began to refilling.

The lake has been undergoing an extensive renovation with a new water control structure, more than 10,000 linear feet of shoreline work, more than 100 habitat structures placed on the lakebed, and nearly 100 trees anchored for fish habitat.

Other forage species that were stocked this spring include fathead minnows, golden shiners and threadfin shad have been added in huge numbers to the lake to build up the food supply for the predators, which will be stocked in 2022.

Boxhound Marina (870670-4496) reports that water is clear and low.

Lake clarity remains clear and water level is low.

They received no catch reports this week.

Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.c om (870-955-8300) said water levels are low running at 320 cfs (350 cfs is normal) at the spring.

Water clarity has been clear. The area is badly in need of some rain. The river has been very low, making floating the river tough. The smallmouth stretch has become too low to get over water falls easily.

The trout have been hitting great. Small nymphs have been great for numbers.

Blue-wing olives and caddis are hatching heavy most days. Anything to imitate them works. Lots of smaller browns in the river can make for some fun dryfly action, too. “Hopper droppers have been a blast lately. For the bigger fish, a white lightning or big Woollies have been the ticket for us. Only problem is the small fish try to eat them, too, but just short strike. Wait for the heavy hit,” Mark suggests.

“We are catching smallmouth on hourglass leadeye streamers like Woollies, sculpin and crayfish patterns. Drag it slow along the bottom. And, yes, if you’re fishing for smallies right, you will lose a lot of flies.”

Spin-fishing has been hot with Trout Magnets with the low, clear water. Doing a little better without a float, with a cast across letting it bounce along the bottom with a small split shot foot above. Hot pink, white and orange have been hot colors.

“Groundbreaking at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery is scheduled for next week and work will start on rebuilding the hatchery. This should not affect the river as it will be done in stages,” Mark said.

“The hatchery has been at 40 percent or less capacity since the flood of 2017.

Jim Hinkle hatchery stocks rivers throughout Arkansas with trout. It is vital for the trout fisheries in our state.

We have been waiting for this to happen and it will be completed over the next year.”

He adds, “The river is slick so be careful wading and have fun. Tight lines and good luck!

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the water level on the Spring River is fishable.

This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers.

Canoe season is coming to an end, but canoeists can still be a problem. Fish the upper river at the Lassiter Access to avoid them, or fish Dam 3 late in the afternoon after they have left the area. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms and Y2Ks.