Fishing Tip: Large top-water lures, especially imitations with big splayed legs, may spin in the air as you cast, twisting your line. Attaching the lure to a snap-swivel will eliminate line twist but will also cause a bug to ride low in the water, ruining the action. To keep the twist out of the line, tie a one- or two-foot leader between the lure and a swivel, like a Carolina rig without the weight.

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river conditions are perfect. With two generators running, the river is clear and at normal pool. Trout fishing is excellent using a gold or silver Rapala Countdown (no. 7 and no. 9), Power Eggs, red worms and artificial lures.

Bull Shoals Tailwaters: McLellan’s Fly Shop said two to four units have been running for most of the week. The generation is producing some excellent fly-fishing opportunities from a boat. The trout are all fat and healthy after the extended period of high water. As a result, fly-fishing has been very good in the various shoals of the upper river, especially using sowbugs, scuds, Unreal Eggs, Golden Eggs and San Juan Worms. Some very large trout have been hooked. The best flies have been:  Zebra and Black/Olive Rubber-leg Copper John (sizes 14 to 18), McLellan’s Woven V-Rib Sowbug (sizes 14 to 16), McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 to 16), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (sizes 12 to 16), Little Brown Bug (sizes 14 to 16), March Brown Spider (sizes 12 to 4), Red Ass (size 16), Partridge & Herl (size 16), Rag Sculpin (size 6), Golden Eggs (size 16), Unreal Eggs (size 12), Platte River Special (size 4),  Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4), and Swimming Jimmy (size 4)

North Fork River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said generation has been scaled back over the past week. Generators have been running early and late which is providing some wade-fishing opportunities. Scuds, sow bugs and midges have been producing plenty of strikes. During high-water conditions, streamer fishing has been excellent from a boat (especially on overcast days). Using Streamer Express lines, big new streamers like the Swimming Jimmy and Articulated Zoo Cougar have produced several strikes lately and plenty of excitement. The best flies have been:  McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 to 16), Morgan’s Midge (sizes 22 to 24), Rojo Midge (size 22), Yong Special (sizes 20 to 22), Zebra Jujubee Midge (sizes 20 to 24), Mercury Black Beauty (sizes 20 to 22), Gray Mercury Midge (sizes 20 to 22), WD-50 (sizes 20 to 22), McLellan’s Woven Sow Bug (sizes 14 to 16), Golden Egg (size 16), Unreal Eggs (size 12), Mercury Brassie (sizes 18 to 20), Mercury Blood Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Platte River Special (size 4), San Juan Worm (size 16),  Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and  Swimming Jimmy (size 4).

Norfork River: Fly-fishing guide John Gulley said the trout are biting pretty good. In low water, use an olive micro-jig or a diamond midge under an indicator about 2 ½-feet deep in the pools. On high-water, use a either a 1/32- or 1/64-ounce pink jig on a fly rod or try using an egg pattern. Spin fishermen are catching fish on shad-colored or silver Countdown Rapalas. Bait fishermen are using an assortment of baits, including worms, Power Bait and corn.

Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said with all the rain the lake has come up five feet and is now at 659.22. The high water has scattered the fish and the shad. Largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass are confused and leaving their winter areas searching for the shad that were in deep water. Channel swings and points are the best areas to fish with Spider Jigs, tubes, grubs and spoons. Suspending Rogues will also trigger some of the roaming bass. Walleye are over the flooded forest and off the deep sides of large flats. The catchable walleye are in 46 to 52 feet of water hugging the bottom. Try using 2 ½- to 3-ounce bottom bouncers with a crawler harness to trigger a few but your best bet is spooning or dropping a ball jig with a shiner or grub. Crappie remain slow and hard to find. Check deep brush piles (30 feet or more) and pole trees along bluff walls. Crappie minnows are your best bet.

Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is dingy and high. Crappie are biting well on live minnows and crappie jigs fished from 30- to 35-feet over bush piles or off the docks. Stripers are fair from 30- to 45-feet trolling deep with live bait over rocky points. White bass are biting on jigs and spoons.

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