Pictured is Steve from Oklahoma with a nice Rainbow trout
Tailwaters Fishing Report – Low Water & Regulations Update
Got your waders handy? You’re going to need them. Water levels on the tailwaters remain extremely low, and conditions continue to favor bank anglers and those willing to get out and walk.
The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission has voted to keep the emergency trout regulations in place until further notice. Beginning February 1, 2026, the limit will remain:
- 2 trout per person, per day
- Any species under 14 inches
- All trout over 14 inches must be released immediately
These restrictions are still tied to the major trout production losses at Norfork National Fish Hatchery and Jim Hinkle Spring River Hatchery following last year’s die-offs and infrastructure damage from natural events. The goal remains protecting what fish are available while stocking numbers recover.
What’s working right now:
- Fire Bait
- Fire Eggs
- Drifting Fire Worms
Even with the low water, anglers are still catching trout consistently using these presentations, especially in deeper runs and current seams.
If water conditions cooperate, I’m hoping to shift gears soon and start bringing walleye reports within the next week or so. We’re getting close.
Stay safe out there, respect the regs, and as always — tight lines.
Hooked On Fishing LLC Lake Report.
Striper action has been solid, especially around channel swings where bait is balled up tight. Keep an eye on the birds — they’ve started working more frequently and will often point you to the right areas to begin scanning. The stripers are dialed in on threadfin shad right now, so matching your bait size to what you’re seeing in the water is key to getting consistent bites.
We’re marking fish mostly in that 10–30 ft. range. A lot of them are stuffed full of shad, so even when you’re on them it can take a little adjustment to trigger strikes. Changing speeds has been the difference-maker — small tweaks will get reaction bites and quickly turn lookers into biters.
Crappie fishing is really starting to fire up as well. They’re roaming flats chasing bait but sliding back into brush when the food moves off. When targeting brush piles, 1/16 or 1/8 oz. jigs have been producing well. Slow your presentation and keep the bait just above the cover. After pulling the aggressive fish out, downsizing your jig often helps coax the more finicky ones to bite.
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