refuge

Anybody been at the white river refuge lately? is it flooded whats going on?

i go quite a lot, but this year has been poor usually due to water rising and getting into lakes, then dropping, then rising again. right now some on the south end have water running thru them, with more water coming.

River at Clarenden is 23.75', and expecte d to rise to 24.3' by the end of the weekend. i would say the river is in several lakes right now. I would wait on the river to fall, let the lakes get back to normal, and then... FISH ON!!! I usually start going in mid-May.

Thanks for the info. Is there a website that I can get lake level updates. Also at what level is the river out of the lakes generally? Thanks

Not sure about lake levels, but you can get the USACE app for a smart phone if you have one. That tells you generation info and levels for Ar rivers.

NOAA has a river level forecast site:

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service: Little Rock

first you have to decide if you want to fish the upper refuge, or the lower. there is no entity reporting the water levels in any of the lakes on the refuge. however, you can find mississippi and white river levels on several web site, noaa being one.

you can do one of two things regarding deciding when to try the lakes. one is to call the refuge office and listen to their recording as to water levels and what is open.

the other, and best way, is to go to the lake (s) you prefer on the first day the gates are opened (you can find this out by calling the refuge) and note on the computer when you get home what the river water level is on that day. remember that number in the future and you'll only have to check your computer to see if the lakes are open and fishable.

This has been a crazy year because the gates have been closed a lot when the river wasn't at flood stage but the water was over the roads. You can call 870-282-8200 wait on options then choose option 1 for what roads are open or closed. Hope this helps.

Also you can call 870-282-3784 for the river level at St. Charles if the gauge isn't screwed up like it is now.:banghead

thanks for all the info guys. i mainly fish around the jacks bay area so i guess ill wait a little longer to see if the water falls before i burn up a tank of gas.

Thanks for the info! Is there also a number you can call to get info on the cache river refuge?

Not sure, I don't ever make it over there, I live to close to the WR Refuge to travel very far but I am considering the idea of trying to fish some of them sippi lakes in the future.

I have a question about the refuge lakes. You guys are mentioning roads and gates but I have only ever fished from Maddox Bay and the lakes we could float into or drag into from Maddox Bay/Prior Lake. Are there more lakes in the refuge that you can drive to and launch as long as the roads/gates are open? What is the best way for me to get more info on those lakes and the roads that allow me to get to them? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I've only ever done it the way I said above.

When you unfold the brochure or walk in permit that you are supposed to have anytime you access the refuge there is a map with all the roads and lakes and yes there are a lot more lakes north and south unit. If you don't have a brochure go to this website White River National Wildlife Refuge and download the brochure map. It is worth a daytrip to find all the lakes and gate locations. Also be careful about being on the refuge without this brochure, it states that anytime you are on refuge property this must be on your person. There are brochure boxes at each entrance north unit off of HWY. 1 and south unit at Ethel AR., you can usually get them at surrounding baitshops and stores.