White
River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river clarity is
good, but the level is high. Generation is on 24-hours a day. Trout
fishing is excellent on Colorado’s and rouges, silver with a black
belly. Also on sunny days, try using silver Rapala Countdowns or on
cloudy days, try gold Rapala Countdowns.
Bull Shoals
Tailwater: McLellan’s Fly Shop said 2 to 6 units have been
running most days, building up to 8 units by late afternoon.
Drifting with the lower water releases has produced 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 lately in the various shoals of the
upper river, especially using sow bugs, scuds, Unreal Eggs, Golden
Eggs and San Juan Worms. Some very large trout have been hooked
lately. The best flies have been: Zebra and Black/Olive
Rubber-leg Copper John (sizes 14 to18), McLellan’s Woven V-Rib
Sowbug (sizes 14 to 16), McLellan’s Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and
Gray (sizes 14 to16), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (sizes 12 to 16),
Little Brown Bug (sizes 14 to 16), March Brown Spider (sizes 12 to
14), 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. The water is primarily running
early and late in the day, providing some wade-fishing
opportunities. However, with all of the water in the Norfork
reservoir, the generation rate should increase over the next week.
Scuds, sow bugs and midges have been producing plenty of strikes.
Several big browns are in the North Fork right now in spawning mode.
So in the interest of keeping our brown trout fishery healthy, it is
important to avoid wading through any spawning reds or casting into
actively spawning fish. Below spawning shoals, Golden Eggs and
McLellan’s Tan Hunchback Scuds are producing several hook-ups.
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. Nymph fishing in high water has also been productive,
using bigger McLellan’s Hunchback Scuds, egg patterns and San Juan
Worms. The best flies have been: McLellan’s Hunchback Scud
Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 to16), 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 (4).
Lake Norfork: Cranfield
Junction Quik Stop said the lake has a stain, and the level is still
high. Crappie are biting well from 20- to 25-feet deep on crappie
jigs and split-tail jigs.