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March 2, 2005
Fishing
Tip: If
you're looking to find walleye in the shallows during the spawn,
shine a floodlight into the water at night. Walleyes' eyes reflect
light so brightly that they look as though they are glowing. The
light may temporarily spook the fish, but you can return several
hours later or the next day to fish the area.
White
River: Gaston's White
River Resort said the river is still high, but the clarity is great.
There have been four to eight generators running 24-hours a day
since January 9. Trout fishing is excellent. Try using white or
yellow Power Bait or Rogues. The Rogues are working the best for the
larger brown trout; a 14-pound brown was picked up last week. Also,
anything white or mimicking a shad will work because there are
several shad being pumped through the dam.
Bull
Shoals Tailwater: McLellan's Fly
Shop said eight units have been running most of the time.
Fly-fishing from a boat using large strike indicators and heavy
split shot has produced plenty of trout to the net, 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 looking for them. 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 Worm (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; two units
have been running during most of the daylight hours. While wade
fishing is severely, fly-fishing from a boat has been excellent over
the past week. While drift fishing with large strike indicators and
heavy split shot, shad patterns, San Juan Worms and egg patterns
have been producing a ton of hook-ups. Streamer fishing has also
been excellent (especially on overcast days). 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 weather has been great. A little front came through the
middle of the week, but other than that, the temperatures have been
in the upper 50s. The lake temperature ranges from 47 to 49 degrees.
The warmer water is on the northern banks. This week's lake level is
at 653.86 feet, which is ½ foot below normal pool. The lake clarity
remains around 15 feet with a greenish tint. Crappie were slow this
week but not impossible to catch. They continue to suspend over the
top of crappie cribs or brush piles in 12- to18-feet deep. Crappie
minnows on a small slip bobber worked the best. Some white bass
started to show up in the backs of the northern creeks. Most are
small males. They are feeding on shad in 30 feet of water. The best
baits are ¼-ounce Roadrunners and ½-ounce spoons. A few largemouth
are roaming the northern banks and points, but they are staying
close to deep water. Crankbaits and slow-rolled spinner baits will
trigger a few. Spider Jigs and football jigs around transition banks
and the ends of channel swings have worked well this week on staging
largemouth. Smallmouth bass are still holding in 30 feet of water
off points and large rock banks. You can catch one or two up on the
bank, but there is no pattern. Kentucky bass have pulled off the
cliff walls and channel swings and moved with the shad into the
pockets and coves off the main lake and cuts in the creek arms. They
are still over deep water and spoons are still the best way to catch
a few. Walleye moved into 32 to 44 feet of water last week, and are
still holding off points and flats this week. Trolling is the key to
trigger a few. Reef Runners and Rapala Glass Shad are the best lures
to pull on lead-core line.
Lake
Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik
Stop said the lake is stained and at normal pool, which is 552 feet.
The lake temperature is at 49 degrees. Crappie are starting to move
in and are biting well on live minnows and jigs. Bass fishing is
good using crankbaits, jerkbaits and jigs. Stripers are fair
trolling with live bait. Walleye are fair trolling with
nightcrawlers in the creek arm.
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