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The read · AGFC + your signals

Lake Catherine Tailwater (Below Carpenter Dam) For weekly flow releases from Carpenter Dam, visit www.entergy.com/hydro (updated 6-25-2026) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam is 69 degrees with stained conditions in the tailrace. Numerous storms with heavy rainfall have been the norm lately in Hot Springs. Summertime heat is back in our area, bringing tailrace temperature upwards of 5-10 degrees around the bridge. The lake is in very good shape water-wise as far as lake level and clarity. Rainbow trout fishing has been extremely slow as the season is quickly coming to an end in terms of catch numbers. Diminished numbers have shortened times that anglers can catch trout and that time is now until the fall stocking begins again in November. Overall size this year was the attraction with fish from 15-18 inches taken fairly consistently until recently. Entergy has alerted the public on a cessation of all full-time generation procedures on the weekends concerning floating until further notice due to the continued drought conditions. The crappie spawn started later on Lake Catherine than normal with some crappie caught in the tailrace on jigs and minnows. Fewer fish were taken this year than in recent memory. Crappie tend to spook easily in the tailrace and the sound of outboard motors will scatter and ruin the bite. Spawning times for area fish are normally later around hydro-electric dams as opposed to the cycles occurring in an area not controlled by hydro-power. Walleye are still present in the Carpenter Dam tailrace although the spawn is complete. These fish remain in the area to rest and feed in preparation for the migration downstream. Trolling small crankbaits that imitate shad or crawfish against the current will draw strikes from these fish that look to feed primarily during periods of generation. Freshwater drum are present and spawning near the dam for their yearly run. These fish are stro

🏆 What they're throwing · Rainbow Trout

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