Low Water Closes Lake Maumelle Ramps as Arkansas Lakes Keep Dropping
Lake Maumelle sits 12.17 feet below normal pool with both ramps closed. Arkansas anglers also face low lakes, a Peckerwood closure and new trout limits.
Both launch ramps at WestRock Landing on Lake Maumelle have been temporarily closed because the water is too low, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report published Nov. 5. The landing reported the lake at 12.17 feet below normal pool as of last week, with a surface temperature of 71 degrees.
Maumelle is one of several central Arkansas waters where drought has changed how and where people can fish this fall. The commission’s report says the state as a whole still needs more rain.
What it means for anglers in central Arkansas
Boat access is the first problem. At Brewer Lake, Mayflower office supervisor Nick Feltz said boats can still go in from the south ramp, but he asked people to use “extreme caution” because the lake is so low. At Harris Brake Lake, the resort’s bait shop said boats can still get in, but the lake is full of stumps and trolling motors are the better choice for moving around. Locals there told the shop they have never seen the water this low.
Peckerwood Lake is off the table entirely until February. Herman’s Landing said the lake is closed to fishing while it serves as a waterfowl rest area for duck hunting clubs in the region.
Lake Conway also remains drawn down for renovation. AGFC staff said the work is on schedule and the gates on the new dam will close Dec. 2 so the lake can start refilling. Until then, the 70-acre Lake Conway Nursery Pond is the local alternative. The commission has stocked it with mature bass, crappie, catfish and bream, plus rainbow trout for the cold months, and staff said visitors have been catching bream and smaller bass.
Where the bass and crappie are biting
Low water has not shut down the fishing. At Harris Brake, one angler has been landing largemouth bass the bait shop estimated at 3-4 pounds on a floating jig, mostly early and late in the day, while bass chase shad near the shore. Another angler there caught crappie of about 11½ inches from the deeper part of the lake.
On the Little Maumelle River, where River Valley Marina reported normal water, crappie are hitting jigs around the trees, and black bass are taking soft plastics and crankbaits in 2-3 feet of water. Channel and blue catfish in the 3- to 5-pound range are also being caught there.
At Brewer Lake, the commission suggests coves in the northern end for crappie and secondary points and isolated brush for bass as the water cools. The limit there is 10 largemouths, with no more than one over 16 inches.
Trout rules on the Little Red and White rivers
The report repeats two regulation changes made this year. Below Greers Ferry Dam on the Little Red River, anglers may keep two trout a day, and any trout 14 inches or longer has to go back right away. The rule stays in place until further notice.
On the White River below Bull Shoals Dam, the commission changed limits in February. From the dam to the Norfork Access ramp, the daily limit is two rainbow trout, and every trout 14 inches or longer must be released. Downstream to Arkansas Highway 58 at Guion, anglers may keep two trout of any species, with only one longer than 14 inches. Brook trout must measure at least 14 inches to keep, and brown, cutthroat and tiger trout at least 24 inches.
Cotter Trout Dock said Bull Shoals Lake stood at 652.66 feet msl and was still falling, with dam releases at minimum flow on some days before rising to nearly three units, or 9,000 cfs, in the evening. Brown trout are heading toward their spawning areas, the dock said.
Crappie Trail results and next stop
The Arkansas Crappie Trail fished Lake Overcup on Oct. 24. Lamar Bunting and Gene Neumeier won with five fish weighing 9.12 pounds, and Donnie Barnhart took big fish honors with a 2.75-pound crappie. Twenty-seven teams weighed in. Bunting described the lake as tough to fish. The trail’s next event is on Lake Nimrod on Nov. 7.
