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Fishing Tip: Always tune a new crankbait to make it run correctly. New lures out of the package often do not run right. Cast the lure out so you are directly facing it, and begin reeling it in at a normal speed. Then, with the lure facing you, bend the eyelet in the direction opposite the way the lure is running.

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river is clear and high. There have been eight generators running. Brown trout are biting on 1/8-ounce jigs, Rapala Husky Jerks, Smithwick Rogues, pink salmon eggs and yellow-and-white Power Eggs.
 
Bull Shoals Tailwaters: McLellan's Fly Shop said eight units have been running most of the day. Fly-fishing from a boat using large strike indicators and heavy split shot has produced many quality trout, especially in the first mile below Bull Shoals Dam. Shad from Bull Shoals Lake have been getting sucked through the dam for almost a month now, and the trout are definitely looking for them. Shad patterns like White Zonkers and Arkansas Coneheads have been hooking several quality trout. The best flies have been: White Zonker (size 6), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), San Juan Worm (size 10), Micro Egg (size 14), Zebra and Black/Olive Rubber-leg Copper John (sizes 14 to 18), McLellan's Woven V-Rib Sowbug (sizes 14 and 16), McLellan's Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 and 16), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (sizes 12 to 16), Rag Sculpin (size 6), Golden Egg (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 daylight hours. While wading is severely limited by this much generation, fly-fishing from a boat has been excellent over the last week. Shad patterns, San Juan Worms and egg patterns have been producing a ton of fish while drift fishing with large strike indicators and heavy split shot. Big new streamers like the Swimming Jimmy and Articulated Zoo Cougar also have produced several strikes lately and plenty of excitement. The best flies have been:  Micro Egg (size 14), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), White Zonker (size 6), Platte River Spider (size 4), San Juan Worm (size 10), Black Wooly Sculpin (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).

Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said temperatures have been in the upper 50s and lower 60s for most of the week. The lake level is 654.65 feet and stable. Lake temperatures are hanging in the upper 40s throughout most of the lake except for the back of the creeks where water temperatures are cooler by a degree or two. The crappie are suspending 12- to 20-feet deep near brush piles and crappie cribs. They are really spooky and you need to stay out away from the structure and pitch crappie tubes and grubs in pearl or chartreuse. Largemouth bass have continued their migration into the northern creeks and pockets this week. The few largemouths taken have been in the back of the creeks. Crankbaits and spinner baits were the triggering baits around the banks, and Spider Jigs or tubes worked best on the drop-offs. Smallmouth bass are on main lake points and secondary points in the creek arms. Some nice smallmouths were caught on grubs and Zoom Fish Doctors. Crawdads are still hibernating, so it will be a week or two before the jig bite picks up. Kentucky bass are traveling with the shad, just like they have all winter. Vertically jigged spoons are still working well on Kentuckies that are deep under shad. Wiggle Warts, Bandits and Bill Norman's Middle N Crankbaits are triggering Kentuckies that are with the shad in shallower water. Walleye are the big movers of the week. Walleye are now off points and flats from the main lake to halfway into the creek arms, and they are in 34 to 42 feet of water. Trolling this week was the key for success. Reef Runners, Rapala Glass Shad and Wally Minnows were the best baits. The walleye are still not close to spawning, but they are coming up to feed. 
 
Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is murky and at normal pool. Crappie are biting well from 5- to 20-feet deep on minnows off the bank. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, jigs and jerkbaits. Walleye are biting upriver on jerkbaits.

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