Arkansas Fishing Reports - March 8, 2006

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said fishing has been great as usual and we've had a low water week, giving plenty of wading time for fly anglers. We had a couple of mornings with one unit on for a few hours, and the rest of the time we've had no generation. The most efficient technique is to use white or yellow PowerBait with a wax worm on a No. 6 hook. If you prefer artificials, any type of white or silver spoon is doing well right now. No. 7 or 9 Mepps and Blue Fox spinners in silver or gold are working well. Fly fishermen are still using the Y2K bug with much success, as well as sow bugs, woolly buggers and midges. The warmer weather has brought us a hatch of midges, so dry fly fishing should be productive.

Wilderness Trail said trout fishing has been up and down depending on the generation. With low or no generation, Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, white and chartreuse have worked well. Also with low generation, try a floating Rapala. During high flow, Buoyant Spoons and Countdown Rapalas are working well. Fly anglers have done extremely well with little generation on olive or black woolly buggers, San Juan worms, zebra midges and trout crack. The caddis have just started to hatch, so a caddis dry fly will be a good choice this week. Brown trout are being caught on Countdowns, Shad Raps, Jointed Rapalas, suspending Rogues and nightcrawlers.  

North Fork River: McLellan's Fly Shop said generation on the Norfork has been a little sporadic lately, but when they have turned on the generators, they haven't stayed on for very long.  The wade fishing has been very good lately, and fishing high water from a boat has been productive as well.  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 have been producing plenty of hook-ups. Best flies have been: McLellan's Hunchback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 14-16), Flashback Scud Tan, Olive and Gray (sizes 12-16), McLellan's Woven Sow Bug (sizes 14-16), Mercury Brassie (sizes 18-20), Rojo Midge (size 22), Mercury Blood Midge (sizes 20-22), Red Jujubee Midge (sizes 20-22), Johnny Flash (sizes 20-24), Mercury Black Beauty (sizes 20-22), Gray Mercury Midge (sizes 20-22), Flashtail Mini Egg (sizes 14-16), Unreal Egg and Micro Egg.

Norfork Trout Dock said the river is clear and there hasn't been much generation lately. The fishing is about average for rainbow and brown trout. When the water is running, PowerBait, nightcrawlers, corn and Rapala Countdowns are working well. Some shad are beginning to get pulled through the gates; so shad-imitating lures and white streamers are starting to produce.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 644.11 feet MSL.

Wilderness Trail said the water temperature reached 50 to 51 degrees in some areas of the lake before the fronts came through. The water is now in the high 40's again, but is rising. The game fish had started to move earlier in the week, but the cold front has stopped them in their tracks.  Crappie have been caught in some of the brush piles that are in 25 to 30 feet of water with a minnow and jig head plus Bobby Garland's Swimming Minnow fished on a very light jig head (1/16 oz) close to the top of the brush piles. Largemouth bass are still close to the banks in the upper lake and in the Theodosia arm.  Spinnerbaits and suspending Rogues remain the best bait. In the rest of the lake the largemouth are holding on the bluffs and main lake points. When the wind is up, small crankbaits or suspending Rogues are working, otherwise fish jigs and tubes in brown/green colors. Smallmouth bass were showing up on secondary points in the creek arms this week, but that movement will be halted for a few days, waiting for the lake temperature to stabilize. Spider jigs, tubes and grubs are still working well along with Wiggle Warts and jerkbaits on breezy days. You should still begin your day by fishing the 35-foot depth range and move in from there. Kentucky bass are still with the shad.  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. In these areas, try grubs, tubes and spider jigs fished through the trees. Walleye are being found anywhere from 45 feet of water to 10 feet of water.  At this time of year a Lucky Craft Pointer 78DD will work on the walleye that are shallow and deeper-diving baits such as Deep Little Ripper or Bandit Walleye baits will work the best.  Trolling a Hot'N Tot in 20 feet of water will work on suspended walleye.

Sugar Loaf Harbor said the lake is still low and the clarity is poor. Crappie fishing is good on minnows and jigs. The crappie seem to be suspended in 15 to 25 feet of water around brush piles. The walleye have moved into the creeks and are visiting the shallows during low light. The spawn should be in full swing soon.

Lake Norfork: As of Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake's elevation at 539.68 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is low and clear. Crappie fishing is steadily picking up with the warm weather. Many fish have been caught on jigs fished around brush piles and attractors. Bass anglers are getting some decent bites on jerkbaits, crankbaits and jig-and-pig combos. Many walleye are being caught during the day on suspending jerkbaits in the creeks. Stripers are biting fairly well on shiners and shad drifted under a balloon in 30 to 40 feet of water. In the evenings, they are up shallow and can be caught on Rattlin' Rogue jerkbaits.