🎣 Fishing Reports
Bull Shoals • Table Rock • Norfork Lake • Taneycomo • White River • Greers Ferry • Little Red River • and more
Reports updated nightly — pulling the most current conditions from AGFC, MDC, and local guides so you wake up knowing what the fish are doing.
🎣 Fishing Summary
Bull Shoals Lake • Norfork • Table Rock • White River • Greers Ferry • Little Red • and more
Bull Shoals Lake is firing right now with that classic late-May transitional bite. We're sitting at 655.85 feet—about 4 feet below normal pool—with water temps at a pleasant 70°F, and Del Colvin's got the pattern dialed in. The shad spawn is still on, so get out early and work topwater with Zara Spook-style lures and poppers before the sun climbs. Once that bite shuts down mid-morning, shift to deep-cranking in the 2-15 foot drains with spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits in the stained water columns—the power fishermen are absolutely connecting on the right weather windows (clouds, wind, maybe some rain). Over on the White River tailwaters—both Cotter and Calico Rock areas—the late afternoon generation releases are creating prime conditions with cold, clear water pushing in. Thompson Colorado spoons in nickel/gold are the workhorses, with drift-fishing eggs and shrimp also producing, plus CD5 Rapala Countdowns in rainbow patterns catching consistent trout. Lake Taneycomo is shaping up to be a sleeper play this summer with minimal spring rains meaning strategic, limited generation—trout fishing will actually get easier for most anglers since you won't have those unpredictable flood pulses.
🏹 What's Working — Baits & Lures
- 1/2 oz white Chatterbait
- 1-ounce Thompson Colorado nickel/gold spoon
- Zara Spook-style topwater lure
- CD5 Rapala Countdown in rainbow
- spinnerbait
🎮 How They're Fishing
- Deep-cranking in 2-15 foot drains
- early morning topwater covering water
- drift-fishing eggs and shrimp in tailwaters
- slow spoon presentations on trout holding structure.
💡 Guide's Insider Tip
Del Colvin says get up early for the shad spawn bite on topwater—once that slows mid-morning, pivot to deep-cranking Chatterbaits in stained water on the right weather days.
🏆 Top Picks Right Now
Bull Shoals sits 4 feet below normal pool right now, which concentrates bass and baitfish into the creek arm drains and deeper channels. Hit those 2-15 foot zones early before the sun burns off the morning cloud cover—that's when the topwater magic happens.
Bull Shoals Lake
adventure. Bull Shoals Lake level shows a small increase from our recent rains, now recorded at 655.85 feet msl. (updated 5-21-2026) Fishing guide Del Colvin at Bull Shoals Lake (815-592-4302), delcolvinfishing.com , said Wednesday that the lake level is still holding at 655 feet msl (4 or so feet below normal pool). Water temp 70 degrees give or take. The power fishermen are doing fine on the right day (wind/clouds/rain/stain) deep-cranking in 2-15 feet drains. Use a spinnerbait or Chatterbait in the stained water. There are still signs of shad spawn; get up early. Try topwater in the early…
Table Rock Lake
Fishing for black bass should be excellent in 2026. Largemouth bass are plentiful throughout the lake as a result of the high lake levels in past years. Fall 2025 electrofishing surveys revealed good numbers of largemouth bass in the 15”-18” range. These surveys also revealed an abundance of spotted bass in the 11”-14” range, with just three percent of the spotted bass captured in the fall 2025 surveys exceeding 15”. Due to the high abundance and slow growth rates of spotted bass in Table Rock Lake, the minimum length limit is planned to be reduced to 12” in 2026. Anglers are encouraged t…
White River
Cotter Area (updated 5-21-2026) Cotter Trout Dock (870-435-6525) said, “The merry month of May has been good to we trout anglers on the Bull Shoals tail waters of the White River. The water level has been low during morning and early afternoon hours, with late afternoon releases bringing a rush of cold, clear water for a whole different fishing Calico Rock Area (updated 5-21-2026) Dave McCulley, owner of Jenkins Fishing Service in Calico Rock, said, “For the bulk of the week, we continue to see great fishing. Quarter-ounce Thompson Colorado nickel/gold spoons remain our go-to lure but we also …
Norfork River
Note: On Feb. 1, 2026, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission changed trout limits for Norfork tailwater. Anglers in the Norfork tailwater may keep two rainbow trout daily; all trout 14 inches or longer must be released immediately.
Norfork Lake
“ Stripers are very scattered right now. They can be south and north to Rocky. As usual, trust in electronics and you will find them. Crappie and bass are wrapping up their spawns. There will a short lull in the bite, but that will flip soon. Look back out on structure in the 10- to 15-foot range. Catfish and bluegill are next up in spawning and should be getting good. “ Walleye will start to load on points in and around 25 feet depth and then its crawler harnesses that will produce. “Good luck and stay safe!”
Buffalo River
No report available at this time. Check back after float season begins.
Crooked Creek
No report available at this time. Check back after float season begins.
Spring River
(updated 5-7-2026) Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides.com (870-955-8300) said water levels are running at 270 cfs (below the average of 350 cfs) and water clarity is clear. Rain showers have stirred up clarity on the Spring last week, but it’s still in need of rain to get river levels up. The river remains very low. Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery is stocking nice-sized rainbows “that have been a blast, but the pressure has been on the fish, too, with the nice weather and low-water conditions.”
Kings River
No report available at this time. Check back after float season begins.
Beaver Lake
(updated 5-14-2026) Jon Conklin with FishOn Guide Service (479-233-3474) said Beaver Lake level is near 1,122.0 feet msl, right at normal levels. Water temperature is in the upper 60s, and water is stained from Hickory south and cleats the farther north you go. Visit Jon’s Facebook page for the latest updates between weekly reports at FishOn Guide Service Goshen AR .
Lake Taneycomo
No spring rains. That’s the headline for this Taneycomo fishing report. Not a whole lot of rain the last 10 months. I think the whole Midwest, and other parts of the country, are in the same boat. How’s that affect our trout fishing? Basically don’t look for a lot of generation this summer. Operators will generate but at strategic times based on power demand. No flood control releases. No shad runs. Trout fishing is going to be easier for most anglers, for the most part. And I think we will see some generation for part of each day, so that will give anglers choices on when to fish und…
Greers Ferry Lake
NOTE: On Feb. 1, 2026, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission changed trout limits for the Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. Anglers may keep two trout daily; trout 14 inches or longer must be released immediately. This rule is in effect until further notice. (updated 4-30-2026) Randy Plyler with Plyler Outdoors Guide Service (870-210-0522) reports that he’s been fishing both DeGray Lake where he usually hangs out (see report below under “Southwest Arkansas,” but has also been fishing Greers Ferry Lake lately. Greers bass can be caught on points and rocky banks with big boulders and stan…
Little Red River
NOTE: On Feb. 1, 2026, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission changed trout limits for the Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. Anglers may keep two trout daily; trout 14 inches or longer must be released immediately. This rule is in effect until further notice. (updated 5-14-2026) Mike Winkler of Little Red River Fly Fishing Trips (501-507-3688) said, “The SWPA (Southwestern Power Administration) has been running a somewhat consistent generation schedule over the last week, and it has really helped improve the fishing on the Little Red River. We’ve been seeing water released in the late af…
| Type | Period | Time (CDT) | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major | Moon Overhead | 8:59 PM | 2 hrs | Upcoming |
| Major | Moon Underfoot | 8:59 AM | 2 hrs | Past |
| Minor | Moonrise | 3:16 PM | 1 hr | Upcoming |
| Minor | Moonset | 2:42 AM | 1 hr | Past |
- Work the major periods: Regardless of moon phase, the major solunar windows above are your best shot at active fish.
- Let conditions lead: In mid-phase moons, water temperature, barometric pressure, and bait location matter most.
- Versatility wins: Keep a reaction bait (spinnerbait, crankbait) and a finesse option (drop shot, wacky rig) ready to adjust to fish mood.