Fishing Tip: If a hook penetrates your skin past the barb, try to push the point through the skin in a different spot, then cut the hook below the barb with a pair of pliers. If the barb is embedded too deep, you may need to go to a hospital for removal.


White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river clarity is good, and the river is still high. There are four to six generators running. Trout fishing is good using Rapala Countdowns. Brown trout in the 3- to 8-pound range are biting on Rapala Husky Jerks in green with an orange belly or silver with an orange belly. Rainbow trout are biting on yellow or white Power Eggs.
 
Bull Shoals Tailwaters: McLellan's Fly Shop said the trophy area below Bull Shoals Dam opened on Feb. 1, although you'll need a boat to fish it. Six units have been running most days, building up to eight units by late afternoon. Fly-fishing from a boat has produced plenty of hookups and brought many quality trout to the net, especially in the first mile below Bull Shoals Dam. Shad patterns like White Zonkers and Arkansas Coneheads have been hooking several quality trout when drifted under large strike indicators with heavy split shot. The best flies have been:  White Zonker (size 6), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), San Juan Worms (size 10), Micro Eggs (size 14), 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), Rag Sculpin (size 6), Golden Eggs (size 16), Platte River Spider (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).
 
North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has increased over the past week, with two units running during most of the daylight hours. While wade-fishing is severely limited by this much generation, fly-fishing from a boat has been excellent. Shad patterns, San Juan Worms and egg patterns have been producing a ton of hookups while drifting under large strike indicators and heavy split shot. The best flies have been:  Micro Eggs (size 14), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), White Zonker (size 6), Platte River Spider (size 4), San Juan Worms (size 10), Black Wooly Sculpin (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).
 
Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said the lake level has been pulled down to normal pool, 654.49 feet, and the lake clarity is about 14 feet. Crappie are still scattered as the water temperature is in the mid-40s. They are being caught along the bluff walls around the pole trees at about 38 to 40 feet. The best technique is a crappie tube or Bobby Garland Swimming Minnow on a pink or red jighead. Largemouth bass have really shut down. They are roaming from points to transition banks to the backs of the pockets. Covering a lot of water with search baits is the key at this time. The best baits to use are Bandit and Wiggle Wart crankbaits, Suspending Rogues and Lucky Craft jerk baits. Smallmouth bass are a little easier to pattern. Main lake points and creek arm transition banks are key areas to check until the weather makes a swing toward spring and the water starts to warm. Fish grubs, Spider Jigs and suspending rogues from the bank out to 40 feet of water. Kentucky bass are traveling with the shad just like last week. Most of the shad and Kentucky bass are down 40- to 50-feet deep. For the Kentuckies, spoons and drop shot rigs with grubs or 4-inch drop shot worms are your best bets. Walleye continue to be a hit or miss situation. They are deep over flooded forests, roaming over deep flats and suspended in the middle of the creeks. Spoons and shiners on ball jigs or grubs are your best bet. The walleye will start their move when the water warms to around 52-degrees. So, the spring migration is not far away. Fishing for trout on the White River has still been good. When there is not much generation, Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, orange and white have done well. With generation Rooster Tails, the Buoyant spoon, Super Dupers, Little Cleos and Rapala Countdowns are the bait of choice. With the generation, fly-fishing has been limited but olive Woolly Buggers, sow bugs and scuds have done well.
Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the water is dingy, but the lake level is normal at 552 feet. Crappie are biting well from 25- to 50-feet deep on minnows and jigs fished over brush piles. Bass fishing is good from shallow to 20-feet deep using crankbaits or jigs near the chunk-rock banks.

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