Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas

From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

March 21, 2007  Edition                                               

White River:
Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, pink and bubblegum along with Power Wigglers in chartreuse or pink. During generation, Buoyant Spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. Flyfishermen have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, San Juan worms in bright colors, and “unreal” eggs in peach or white. Browns are being caught on Countdowns, Rogues and nightcrawlers.

Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.84 feet MSL. Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said before the last cold front, the lake temperature was 50 degrees with some 54 degree water in the back of the creeks and northern pockets, but by Sunday morning the lake temperature dropped almost 3 degrees. Crappie have picked up in the upper lake on brush piles in the cuts and coves. Bobby Garland Swimming Minnows and crappie tubes are the hot baits. Crappie in the mid-lake and lower lake are just now starting to turn on in the creek coves that have brush. These crappie are holding outside of the brush piles and live crappie minnows are the best bait. White bass are in the backs of most creeks, but the cool down has pushed them out a little. Switch to ¼-oz. Roadrunners and small spoons this week and fish a little deeper. Largemouth continue moving out of the deep water and repositioning themselves in the pockets, coves and creeks around secondary points and along pea rock banks. The best bite seems to be early in the morning on spider jigs, spinnerbaits, Wiggle Warts and jerkbaits. Some nice smallmouth bass have been on pea rock banks on the main lake. Kentucky bass have left the shad and are moving into channel swings and secondary points in the creeks and pockets near the main lake. Suspending Rogues and X-raps are just starting to work with a slow jerk and a pause motion. Most strikes will come on the pause. Best colors have been Tennessee shad, sour grape and silver. Walleye were on the banks and starting to stage up and then came the cold front and the walleye have backed off the banks and are suspending in 24 to 30 feet of water. The best bite is at night and early morning when the walleye are moving up to feed. Fish Suspending Rogues, Shad Raps and X-raps around secondary points.

Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.73 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and at normal level. Crappie are fair on minnows, baby shad and small silver jigs. Bass are biting well on softplastic jerkbaits and crankbaits. Stripers and hybrids are biting well during low-light hours on shad-patterned jerkbaits. Walleye are picking up on jerkbaits and 3-inch Kalin’s grubs.

Norfork Tailwater:
Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said the water is clear and running off and on. Brown trout are biting well on no. 7 silver Countdown Minnows and corn.