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Fishing Tip: Many fishermen seek sheltered water when the wind kicks up. This can be a mistake. While it may be more difficult to fish in the wind, it often turns fish on to a bite. The wind can often push baitfish into a concentrated area against the banks and coves, attracting bass, walleye and other sportfish. Cast into downwind coves and cuts in the banks to find these fish.

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river is clear and at normal pool. There have been two generators running. Trout fishing is good using black-and-brown jigs (¹/₈-ounce is the best), gold spoons (¹/₄-ounce), gold Rapalas and yellow or white Power Eggs.

White River (near Goshen): McLellan's Fly Shop said although last weekend's cold snap slowed things down, the white bass are still in the early stages of their annual spawning run. White bass reports have been coming in daily. There are reports of fly-fishermen taking some large females as well as the smaller males. It won't be long until fishermen start hooking from 50 to 60 white bass a day. Be sure to have plenty of Clouser Minnows, Jiggies and Crazy Dads in your fly box. It is amazing how fast the white bass, not to mention the stumps and rocks in the river, can chew up flies. The best flies have been: Crazy Dad in Olive, Pumpkin and Orange (size 8), Jiggy in Olive and Shad color (size 6), Hot Head Jiggy in White, Tan, Chartreuse and Firetiger (size 6), Cap'n Tim in Olive (size 4) and CFB in chartreuse (size 6).

Bull Shoals Tailwaters: McLellan's Fly Shop said Bull Shoals Tailwater generation has been cut nearly in half over the past week. In the faster riffles and runs, drift a scud, sow bug, mayfly nymph or caddis pupa under a strike indicator and hold on. March is the start of the major caddis season on the White River. So, be sure to have plenty of caddis pupa, as well as dries, in your fly box. Pupa patterns like the Z-Wing Caddis and the new Graphic Caddis are some favorites. As for dry fly patterns, it is hard to beat the classic Elk Hair Caddis, but new versions like Rainy's Foam-Body Elk Hair Caddis and the flashy Pearl-and-Elk are productive twists on the original. For slower currents, try using the E-Z Caddis, which rides flush in the film. Shad patterns like White Zonkers and the Arkansas Conehead are still hooking several quality trout when drifted under large strike indicators with heavy split shot. The best flies have been:  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) Graphic Caddis Tan and Olive (sizes 14 to 18), Z-Wing Caddis (sizes 14 to 16), Caddis Larva (sizes 14 to 16), Elk Hair Caddis (sizes 14 to 18), E-Z Caddis (sizes 14 to 18), Red Fox Squirrel Nymph (sizes 12 to 16), Rag Sculpin (size 6), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4), Swimming Jimmy (size 4), White Zonker (size 6), Arkansas Conehead (size 6), San Juan Worms (size 10) and Micro Eggs (size 14).

 North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation has been cut back significantly, providing plenty of wading opportunities. After two-plus months of high water, the trout are in very good shape. During low water, concentrate your nymph fishing on the faster runs and riffles; tie on a size 16 scud or sow bug and hold on. During high-water conditions, streamer fishing has also been excellent from a boat (especially on overcast days). The best flies have been: McLellan's Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14 to 16), Flashback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 12 to 16), McLellan's Woven Sow Bug (sizes 14 to 16), Graphic Caddis Tan and Olive (sizes 14 to 18), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph (sizes 16 to 20), Beadhead Hare's Ear Nymph (sizes 14 to 18), Mercury Brassie (sizes 18 to 20), Rojo Midge (size 22), Mercury Blood Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Red Jujubee Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Johnny Flash (sizes 20 to 24), Mercury Black Beauty (sizes 20 to 22), Gray Mercury Midge (sizes 20 to 22), Black Wooly Sculpin (size 4), Articulated Zoo Cougar (size 4) and Swimming Jimmy (size 4).

Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said last week the weather varied each day, and the wind speed ranged 20 to 30 miles per hour for three days. These conditions made it a little tough to spend any quality time on the water. The water temperature dropped, but rebounded to the 50s by Sunday. The lake level this week is 654 feet, which is just barely below normal pool. White bass are holding in the first deep water (45 to 60 feet) drop offs at the backs of the creeks. Spoons are the key bait to trigger a few. Crappie moved off the brush piles this week and returned to the points at the entrances of cuts and coves. The bite was very slow. Largemouth bass have not made any change from last week. They continue to roam the banks and points feeding as they move. Wiggle Warts and Bandit crankbaits are working on windy days, but otherwise, spider jigs in 20 to 30 feet of water is your best bet. Smallmouth bass were taken from 3 to 45 feet with no consistent pattern. Kentucky bass continue to travel with the shad although more Kentuckies were caught around chunk rock secondary points this week. They are looking for crawdads. Spoons will still trigger the Kentuckies with the shad. Tubes or Spider Jigs will work on the bank-roaming bass. Walleye were around secondary and main lake points in 32 to 42 feet of water. Start with Reef Runners or Rapala Glass Shad on lead core line in 32 to 42 feet of water around points. Lead Hill Boat Dock said the lake clarity is fair, and the lake is at normal pool. Crappie are biting well about 5-feet deep on minnows and jigs near brush piles. Bass are biting well from 10- to 15-feet deep on spinner baits.

 Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake has a green stain, but the level is normal. Crappie are biting well from 8- to 20-feet deep on minnows and crappie jigs. Bass are biting well from 5- to 15-feet deep on crankbaits. White bass fishing is picking up in the middle arms of the creeks. Try using swimming minnows or Cotton Cordell Gayblades. Walleye fishing is fair at night on Rouges.

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