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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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