Low Water Hits Arkansas Lakes, but Crappie and Bass Still Bite
Arkansas Game and Fish's latest weekly report shows several central lakes well below normal, with ramps closed or tricky, yet crappie and bass are still biting.
Central Arkansas anglers are dealing with very low water on several lakes this fall, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report dated October 29. Even so, crappie, largemouth bass and catfish are being caught, and the report passes along practical advice on where and how to fish.
Low water and launch cautions
Lake Maumelle was reported at 12.17 feet below normal pool as of last week, with a surface temperature of 71 degrees. WestRock Landing said both its front and back launch ramps were temporarily closed because of the low level.
At Harris Brake Lake, resort staff said the lake is very low and that local people have not seen it this low before. It is stumpy, so boaters are urged to move carefully, and a trolling motor is the best choice. Brewer Lake is similar: a commission supervisor said the south ramp can still be used, but “extreme caution” is needed.
Peckerwood Lake is also dropping. Herman’s Landing said it is the lowest the lake has been since probably 2015. Most anglers there are in johnboats and similar small craft with trolling motors.
What is biting
- Harris Brake Lake: one angler caught largemouth bass estimated at 3 to 4 pounds, with a floating jig working best. The bite is stronger in the morning and late evening. Crappie of about 11½ inches came from the deeper part of the lake.
- Peckerwood Lake: crappie are the main target, biting jigs and minnows around stumps. Catfish are caught only by accident.
- Little Maumelle River: crappie are biting again on jigs, around trees in about 6 feet of water. Black bass take soft plastics and crankbaits in 2 to 3 feet of water. Channel and blue catfish of 3 to 5 pounds are being caught.
- Brewer Lake: for crappie, focus on coves in the northern part. Bass can be found around secondary points and isolated brush as temperatures fall.
A tournament and a family option
The Arkansas Crappie Trail held an event on Lake Overcup on October 24. Lamar Bunting and Gene Neumeier won with five crappie weighing 9.12 pounds, and Donnie Barnhart landed the big fish at 2.75 pounds. Twenty-seven teams weighed in fish. Bunting said the lake “was fishing tough, to say the least.” The trail next visits Lake Nimrod on November 7.
With Lake Conway drawn down for renovation, which is proceeding on schedule, the commission points anglers to the 70-acre Lake Conway Nursery Pond. It is stocked with bass, crappie, catfish and bream, plus rainbow trout for the cold months, and staff suggest it as a good destination for families. Anglers there are catching bream and smaller bass.
What it means for readers
If you plan to fish these waters, check ramp conditions before you tow a boat, and expect stumps and shallow spots. Smaller boats with trolling motors are the practical choice. Anglers who fish Peckerwood should note the deadline: it closes to fishing after Saturday, when it becomes a waterfowl rest area for the winter migration until February.
Trout anglers should remember the rule changes for the Little Red River, where you may keep two trout daily and any trout 14 inches or longer must be released immediately.
What is next
The commission updates its reports weekly and suggests contacting the listed reporter for the lake you plan to visit. Whether water levels recover soon is not stated in the report.
