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The read · AGFC + your signals

Lake Ouachita For the current lake level at Blakely Dam, click here. (updated 6-25-2026) Capt. Darryl Morris of Family Fishing Trips (501-844-5418) said, “We are still slaying the slab crappie in the 14-foot range. No little ones. Then, when the morning crappie bite is over, we troll and keep a few large ‘ditch pickles’ (bass). Start early, like 0530, and finish by mid-morning. Enjoy the sunrise and be safe on the water.” (updated 6-25-2026) Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa (870-867-2191/800-832-2276 out-of-state) reports that black bass are still good. Try a fluke-style bait or topwater lure on main lake points near creek mouths, or use a jighead Brush Hog or soft-plastic worm. Walleye are still excellent. For good results, drop-shot a nightcrawler near brush when the sun gets up. Stripers are fair and still being caught on hair jigs and live bait near major creek basins in the eastern part of the lake. Bream are still very good on crickets and worms; the full moon is Monday. Crappie are still fair. Try a small minnow-colored jig over brush in the 10- to 20-foot range. Trotlines and jigs are still producing some quality catches of catfish in the 15- to 30-foot range. Water temperature is a steady 80-86 degrees. Water clarity is clear. Lake level is up again to 577.05 feet msl. Call the Mountain Harbor fishing guides (Mike Wurm, 501-622-7717, or Chris Darby, 870-867-7822) for more information. (updated 6-18-2026) Philip Kastner of Trader Bill’s Outdoors in Little Rock and Hot Springs said this week on “The Wild Side” on KABZ, 103.7 The Buzz, that walleye fishing on Ouachita is very good. Use live nightcrawlers on drop-shot rigs, or try shad-color crankbaits on flooded timber points. At all the major lakes, summer patterns are in full swing, and that means it’s a good time for night fishing.

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