Fishing Tip: Anyone
who enjoys crappie fishing or wants to pick up a few tips might be
interested in Crappie.com’s annual Crappie Camp March 31-April 9. The
camp will be held at the Kirby Landing Recreational Area on Lake
Greeson in Southwest Arkansas. Anyone may attend the event, which will
include fishing, fellowship and various seminars throughout the week.
The timing should be excellent for many good catches of crappie, and
anglers from across the country are already planning to attend.
White River: Gaston's White River Resort said
last week started off with about six inches of snow and much cooler
temperatures than we have seen all winter. But that didn’t stop
the fishermen from wading into the river to catch a limit of
trout. There were many nice brown trout caught and released last
week. Most were caught on white or yellow PowerBait and wax worms
or nightcrawlers, but artificial lures worked very well, too. Any
type of white or silver spoon, such as a Little Cleo, Rooster Tail or
Krocodile spoon is a good bet now. Fly fishermen are still using
the Y2K bug with much success, as well as sow bugs, woolly buggers, and
red San Juan worms when the water comes up. Water generation was
slightly higher this week, probably because to the colder
temperatures. We have had more high water this week than in past
weeks, which is great for fishermen who like to throw big Rogues and
Husky Jerks from a boat. There are plenty of opportunities for
both high- and low-water fishing, so be prepared for both water levels
when you come to river.
McLellan’s Fly Shop said March is
the month to start looking for big caddis hatches on the White.
Early in the morning, when few dry flies are present, nymph fishing the
shoal areas with a Z-Wing Caddis, Graphic Caddis or Caddis Larva can be
very productive. As the hatch progresses and the caddis pupae swim
toward the surface, swinging a soft hackle like the Submarine Soft
Hackle, Swing Caddis or Swing Nymph through the riffles can be very
productive. Of course, when you see caddis in the air and trout rising
to the surface, it’s time to switch to a caddis dry fly like the Elk
Hair Caddis, E-Z Caddis, Candy Caddis or the new, ultra-realistic Web
Wing Caddis and cast to the risers.
Wilderness Trail said
fishing for trout on the White River has been good on Berkley Power
Eggs in yellow, white and pink. Buoyant Spoons, Little Cleos, and white
marabou jigs are the best bet during generation. There have been some
shad coming through the dam this last week. We are not having a shad
kill, but the shad are so deep they are getting sucked in. The injured
shad are making for some great action on white Marabou jigs. The fly
fishermen have done well during periods of no generation on olive
woolly buggers, scuds and sow bugs. Brown trout are being caught on
Countdowns, Shad Raps, Jointed Rapalas, Suspending Rogues and
sculpins.
North Fork River: McLellan’s Fly Shop said
generation has been sporadic. The wade fishing has been very good, and
fishing high water from a boat has been productive as well. Try scuds,
sow bugs, midges and eggs in low water, and eggs, San Juan Worms, and
big streamers like the Articulated Zoo Cougar in high water.
Norfork Trout Dock said
the river is running low and clear. Rainbow trout are biting well on
PowerBait. Brown trout have been taken lately on nightcrawlers, Shad
Raps and Rapalas fished across the current below any riffle.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Wednesday, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 644.06
feet MSL.
Wilderness Trail said the
snow is gone. Water temperature ranges from 46.4 on the surface to 45.7
in 10 to 90 feet of water. With spring just around the corner and sun
getting higher in the sky, bass, crappie and walleye should begin
moving to water from 20 feet deep to the bank on the northern side of
creeks. The lake is still 10 feet below normal pool. Largemouth bass
have moved up to the banks in the upper lake and in the Theodosia arm.
Some largemouth are close enough to catch on spinnerbaits, but
suspending Rogues are the best bet. The rest of the lake is still on
the slow side, with largemouth holding on the bluffs and main lake
points. When the wind is up, throw crankbaits or jerkbaits, otherwise
fish jigs and tubes in brown colors. Smallmouth bass started showing up
on secondary points in the creek arms this week. There are not many
smallmouth coming in, but the ones that do are good fish. Spider jigs,
tubes and grubs are working well along with Wiggle Warts and jerkbaits
on breezy days. Start by fishing the 35-foot depth and then move in
from there. Kentucky bass are still with the shad and catching one off
the bank is rare. Look for the balls of shad in the main lake cuts,
cliff wall ends and creek channel swings. Spoons and drop shot
rigs are still your best bet except along the bluff walls with pole
tress where the Kentuckies will bite grubs, tubes and spider jigs
fished through the trees. We are supposed to get a warm up this next
week and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the shad start to make a move
out of the deeper water. If they move, the Kentuckies will move
with them. Walleye aren’t cooperating since the week of snow and
freezing temperatures. We can mark the walleye in 45 to 48 feet of
water off points and flats, but they just are not biting. They
should move if the shad move. Until then drop shiners on a jig head or
spoons down to them and hope for a bite. .
Sugar Loaf Harbor said
crappie are suspended in 15 to 25 feet of water and are biting fairly
well on minnows. Walleye have been biting decent in the shallows of the
creeks on crankbaits.
Lake Norfork: As of Wednesday, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 539.69 feet MSL.
Cranfield Junction Quik
Stop said the lake is low and the water is extremely clear. Overall,
the fishing has been pretty good. Crappie are biting well on minnows
fished around brush in 5 to 20 feet of water. Bass are biting well on
suspending jerkbaits and crankbaits on warm, sunny afternoons. The
walleye bite has picked up, with many walleye beginning to make their
move to spawning areas. Stripers are still deep.
