Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas

From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

January 30, 2008 Edition                                

White River:
Mountain River Fly Shop said the cold weather hasn’t kept some anglers from the water. It seems like we have been saying it every week, but Davy’s Super Midge was the hot item, particularly the Red and Black White Tails. The standard versions work very well, but the White Tail is grabbing fly fishers and they are catching fish. Mobile white flies, like Deep Shad patterns, white woolly buggers or anything “fleshy,” tied with rabbit or marabou can work pretty well run deep during generation periods. It's time to add some heavy tippet and big shot to the shopping list. Gaston’s White River Resort said trout anglers have seen many water conditions lately. Anytime between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., two to four units are generating. Around 9 a.m. until noon, the dam will shut down and the water level drops. However, the trout are still feeding during low water periods. The bulbous bivisible is working well for flyfishermen where creeks run into the river. We also recommend the partridge and orange soft hackle, gold ribbed hares ear, copper john, copper zebra midge, Y2K bug, the sow bug and the draggin’ egg. During high water, try peach or white egg patterns, white and pink micro jigs and San Juan worms. Nightcrawlers are doing well for the bait anglers when the water is low. Yellow Power Bait has also been effective. Some other lures being used are No. 5 silver or gold floating Rapalas and Smithwick blue-backed Rogues. Any minnow shaped lure has potential. Anglers White River Resort said water conditions are normal with little generation. Trout fishing has been excellent on yellow and pink Power Bait and drop rigs. Sportsman’s White River Resort said water conditions are normal with four units generating in the mornings. Trout fishing is great on jigs, Rooster Tails, Power Bait and worms. John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said a small rain has kept lake levels and the White River system on the rise. The generation pattern on the White has been for one or two spikes of heavy generation each day followed by periods of no generation or low generation. This has created some limited wading opportunities and some excellent boating opportunities. It has been extremely cold and very windy. Keep in mind that the Catch-and- Release area below Bull Shoals Dam will open Feb. 1. To avoid crowds, try to fish early or late or on a weekday. Despite the cold and windy weather, the fishing on the White has been good. One hot spot has been the Narrows. There have been several reports of great fishing on Y2Ks and egg patterns. On high water, brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns have been quite productive. Wildcat Shoals has also been fishing well, particularly on the lower end of the shoals. When there is a bit of water, egg patterns have produced well, while on low water, partridge and orange soft hackles and green butts have done the job. Rim Shoals is fishing very well. Anglers walking down to White Shoals have been rewarded. Remember that this is a long hike and if the water comes up it will be dangerous. Always check generation before beginning this trek. The hot flies for this section have been olive woolly buggers, olive scuds and black zebra midges with silver wire and a silver bead. The deeper holes along the first island have been productive, particularly with Y2Ks. On high water the hot fly has been the San Juan worm in cerise.

Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 651.94 feet MSL. Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said bass are biting well on crankbaits in 5 to 15 feet of water on overcast days. Hula grubs and Carolina-rigged French fries are working fairly well in 10 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are biting fairly well on spoons fished over large flats in 35 to 40 feet of water. Bottom bouncers baited with nightcrawlers are working well on walleye as well.

Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 547.66 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is clear and about 5 feet low. Black bass are biting well on jigs and jerkbaits. A few white bass have been caught on jigs. Stripers are biting on jigs and jerkbaits as well. 101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is between 38.6 and 41 degrees. Striper fishing is good in the early morning using live bait and a deep-diving stick baits 15 feet deep in 20-60 feet of water. Walleye are beginning to stage on deep drop offs going into the creeks; jigs and small live bait have been good producers. Crappie fishing is fair. White bass are biting well. Largemouth bass have been biting well in the coves on spring craw-colored crankbaits and jig-and-craw combos.

Norfork Tailwater:
Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water conditions are normal with little or no generation. Trout fishing is fair on nightcrawlers. Mountain River Fly Shop said generation on the tailwater has been a little hard to judge. Basically it’s been off most of the day during the past week. Short splashes of water have come early, late or not at all. Fishing can be good one day and bad the next it seems. Small emergers, like gray Glass Bead WD40s and small midge emergers fished up in and close to the surface film performed the best. Mercury Midges, particularly in gray or olive shades, and Black Beauties are also working. Fish some Parachute Adams and BWO Comparaduns or Sparkle Duns for the adults, and always keep some small Pheasant Tails or Micro Mayfly patterns in your box to match the early stages of the hatch. John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said The Norfork has fished a bit better this week. There have been some reliable midge hatches in the afternoons. Olive-colored Norfork beadheads in size 18 have been working the best lately. When the fish keying are in on the midge emergers in the film, Dan’s turkey tail emergers in size 22 have been excellent. Other productive flies have been Y2Ks, San Juan worms, and olive scuds. Dry Run Creek, as always, has been the place to take the kids fishing. It is in a deep, tight valley and is seldom affected by wind. There have been precious few kids fishing there lately and now is a great time to avoid the crowds. The hot fly is a size 14 sow bug. Also try olive woolly buggers and San Juan worms. Be sure and use at least 4X tippet and pinch down those barbs. Always take a huge net and a camera.