Low water pulls black bass into the White River at Calico Rock; Lake Maumelle ramps closed

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Oct. 22 weekly fishing report, compiled by Jim Harris, starts on the White River. Low water has pulled largemouth and smallmouth bass into the river around Calico Rock. Dave McCulley of Jenkins Fishing Service sent in the bass report along with a photo of a good largemouth caught by guide Jeff Wallace of J&J Trout Guides.

Farther upstream, Cotter Trout Dock reports plenty of rainbow trout around 17 inches taking orange baits. The dock asks anglers to stay off brown trout spawning beds (redds) near Rim Shoals. Bull Shoals Lake is about 6 feet below power pool.

In central Arkansas, both boat ramps at WestRock Landing on Lake Maumelle are closed, with the lake 12.17 feet below normal. In the southeast, Lake Chicot crappie are holding in about 8 feet of water and hitting Bobby Garland Baby Shad. The Lake Chicot marina closes for the season Oct. 31.

The report also notes that fall trout stocking below Carpenter Dam is set for Nov. 30, and that the Legacy Lunker Awards Banquet is Oct. 29.

Photo: Largemouth bass caught on the White River near Calico Rock by guide Jeff Wallace. Credit: Dave McCulley, via Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission — Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Fishing Report (Oct. 22, 2026).