FISHING REPORTS (cont.)

Shelly wants anglers to know that the best days to fish based on “moon times” will fall July 25-31, and in August the best period is forecast to be Aug. 24-30.

Look for good fishing days Aug. 8-14.

The lake is murky and at a normal level. Surface temperature on Monday was 82 degrees.

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— Seth Boone, the superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, says the bream are biting well. Catfish have started hitting on worms and some livers. Bass, while catchand- release, are biting on topwater early in the morning and late evening. They are biting on swimbaits sporadically. Crappie have been more docile at this time.

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Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) reported Thursday morning that the water is clear and is low by 2-3 feet. Bream are good on redworms and crickets. No reports on crappie. Black bass are good on topwater lures and on size 12 minnows. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers.

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— Mark Crawford with springriverfliesandguides. com (870-955-8300) said water levels have been at 360 cfs and water clarity has been clear. The trout have been biting great on Pat’s Rubber Legs and Y2Ks, but you’ve got to get to the bottom. With the heat on full blast, the fish have been hugging the river bottom trying to stay cool.

“On a good day, Hopper Droppers are fun to fish but as soon as the sun starts blaring you’ve got to start nymphing. Shawn and the guys like to indicator nymph, and we have been tight-lining in Hunters and my boats watching the trout chase the fly down at the end of the swing.

“The smallie bite has been good with the clear conditions. Once again it’s about dropping down around the falls and getting down to the fish. Crawfish and minnow patterns have been the favs. And for smallies, Popper Droppers work.

Just make sure the dropper is getting to the bottom!

“Saturdays on the Spring have been busy with floaters. Get out early and beat the hatch! The river is very cold and refreshing during this heat.”

Check out Mark’s blog (springriverfliesandguides.c om/blog) for the latest river conditions.

John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service in Cotter (870-435-2169) said the water level on the Spring River is fishable.

This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and North Fork rivers.

Canoe season is in full swing and the boats and rafts are here. Wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive Woolly Buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan

The Army Corps of Engineers reported Thursday that the White River stage at Batesville was falling at 9.64 feet, more than 5 feet below the flood stage of 15.0 feet.

The Newport stage was falling at 12.69 feet (flood stage was 26.00 feet). The stage at Augusta is falling at 24.92 feet, which is more than a foot below the flood stage of 26.00 feet.

Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) in Batesville said the river remains high and muddy, and they had no recent fishing reports.