White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the brown trout spawn is over and the seasonal catch-and-release area is open. With all the rain we had a few weeks ago and the snow and rain in Missouri, we have seen a substantial increase in water generation. We have seen anywhere from 3 to 7 generators being turned on almost every morning. There are a ton of shad being pushed through and the fish are in a frenzy. Guests are catching big trout on white 1/8-ounce jigs, Silver Countdown Rapalas, Silver Rogues and White or Silver Krocodile spoons. Bait fishermen are using white, yellow and rainbow colored Power Eggs tipped with a Glo Worm. Fly Fishing during early hours on this higher water is best with white or pink micro jigs, egg patterns and San Juan worms. Late afternoons they have been turning off the water so wade fisherman will still have an opportunity to fish toward the evenings.

Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing the White River has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and white along with white marabou jigs with or without a chrome dome head. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, white Rooster Tails and white Krocodiles are the baits of choice. The fly-fishermen have done well with olive or white Woolly Buggers, San Juan worms, and “unreal” eggs in peach or white.

Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.68 feet MSL.

Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said lake level has dropped to 654.80. Lake temperature is 43 degrees on top, 44 degrees at 50 feet and 44 degrees at 80 feet. The fish are slowed down and they can be at any depth. Crappie are slow throughout the lake except above Lead Hill where the crappie are holding on main lake brush piles in 30 feet of water.  Best baits are Bobby Garland Twin tail grubs and crappie tubes. Binks crappie spoon is also working well. Largemouth bass are hard to find during winter. You can find a few in the back of creeks up against the banks, but one bass every three hours is not much of a pattern. Your best bet is to graph drop offs until you find some fish, then drop small finesse worms, spoons, Little George’s or small football jigs down to them. Small baits such as grubs, finesse worms, tubes and Bitsy Jigs are key baits for winter smallies. Fish bluff walls and drop offs along main lake points in 35 to 55 feet of water. Kentucky bass are back on the shad bite, so finding them is like playing a game of hide and seek.  Most shad are in the 40-60 foot range. Drop shot rigs and spoons are the key baits although you can get a few Kentuckies to strike tubes if they are on the bottom. You might find a few suspended and they might react to a jerk bait but right now that pattern is a little spotty. Walleye will spend the month moving to the entrance of the creeks. The upper part of the lake will see the first early spring walleye movement at the end of February through the beginning of March. Jigs, Lucky Crafts and suspending Rogues will trigger early season bites. From now until then look around points out in front of the creeks and work spoons, live bait jigs and jigs and grubs.     

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.63 feet MSL.

Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear in the main lake, but dingy from runoff in the creeks. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished around deeper brush piles. Bass are biting well on crankbaits, jerkbaits and jigs fished around deep ledges.

Norfork Tailwater: Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and high with two generators running most of the day. Trout fishing is excellent on corn and nightcrawlers. A 19-lb. brown trout was caught on a large Husky Jerk last week. Be careful and wear your life jacket. The current has made anchoring very dangerous.