Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionMarch 12, 2008 Edition
White River:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said with the existing lake water levels, expect heavy generation and little or no wading on both rivers. With higher water conditions you will need to employ different techniques. The fish will be in different areas. In low water, they tend to congregate in the main channel. In high water, they will be closer to the shore and around weed beds and sunken islands. The best flies for this type of fishing will be brightly colored San Juan worms. The best colors are red, hot fluorescent pink, cerise and fire orange. One fly that has been particularly effective lately is the Y2K bug. Be sure and weight them heavily so they get down to the bottom. A larger strike indicator will also be needed to support the added weight. Please avoid dragging chains during high water. They can get caught and sink the boat before you have a chance to free them. Also avoid anchoring in heavy water as this could also result in sinking. Life jackets are a must when boating in the current. Last week, during the low water, the action moved downstream a bit. The Narrows was a real hot spot. There were several reports of 100-fish days with some really nice fish caught. The hot flies were olive woolly buggers, worm brown San Juan worms and olive scuds. The big news was the first sighting of the rhyancophilia caddis. The best flies for this, our most important hatch of the year, are the green butt soft hackle when they are emerging and the elk hair caddis in size 14 when they have hatched. Anglers also have done well fishing Rim Shoals. The most productive flies in this section have been Y2Ks, zebra midges in brown with copper wire and copper beads, olive scuds (size 16) and worm brown San Juan worms. Another hot spot has been Buffalo Shoals. Anglers have been walking up the tracks from Buffalo City or boating up. This area is holding a lot of trout. Good flies in this area are Y2Ks, olive scuds, zebra midges and olive woolly buggers. The caddis were also seen here last week. Sportsman’s White River Resort said water conditions are normal with heavy generation. Trout fishing has been very good on Rapalas, stick baits, Power Bait, and spoons. The current in dangerously high, so please use caution and wear your life jacket at all times. Mountain River Fly Shop said the generation schedule was all over the place last week, but if caught the low water, the fishing was very good. There even were reports of caddis on the water and some dry fly action at Buffalo Shoals and the Narrows. Then came the rain and snow, which has a bunch of run-off coming down Crooked Creek and the Buffalo, clouding the water downstream. The river to White Hole is clear and fishing well. Definitely time to fish the upper portion of the river. The amount of water in the lower river may limit generation to one to three units, great fishing water. The fishing might not have been red hot but it was certainly steady. Black and silver midges proved effective early, scud patterns and red midges did well during the afternoon. There have also been good reports from brown and olive woolly buggers.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 660.59 feet MSL. Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock (870-445-4424) said the water temperature is in the mid-40s around the lake. Fish are still in their winter patterns. Bass are biting fairly well on crankbaits and soft plastics in 10 to 15 feet of water. Kentucky bass are biting fairly well on live nightcrawlers and spoons in 35 to 60 feet of water. A deep suspending Rogue or X-Rap will take a few bass in 10 to 25 feet of water around channel swings in the backs of creeks. Lake Norfork: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 555.48 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the water is stained and 4 feet high with temperature in the mid 40s. Bass are fair on jerk baits and jigs. 101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature varies from the upper 40s to the low 40s. There is still some debris in the coves and upper part of the lake. The water is beginning to clear up. Striper fishing has been slow. Crappie fishing as been slow. Walleye fishing has been slow. Bass fishing has been slow. White Bass fishing has been slow. We’re seeing a pattern here.
Norfork Tailwater:
Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water conditions are normal with heavy generation. Trout are biting very well on a Power Egg and nightcrawler combination. Fly-fisherman are doing well on olive and black wooly buggers. Mountain River Fly Shop said the tailwater looked extremely different in the wake of the heavy rains. The boat ramp at the confluence of the White River was stacked with downed trees, branches and other debris. It took a few days to remove the all the rubbish, but the Norfork has cleared and is fishing well again. Midges have been very strong, with black/silver, red and brown the most likely colors whether you are fishing Davys super midges, standard zebras or your own patterns. Camel midges have been very effective as well. Another good bet is a San Juan worm, dark scud pattern, or sowbug. John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said few anglers have taken advantage of the good fishing on the high water days. The hot bite has been on Y2Ks and San Juan worms. The fishing in the Catch and Release area has been a bit slower and has been mostly midges. Try brown zebra midges with copper wire and copper bead and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Dry Run Creek fished particularly well last week. The hot action was on Y2Ks and egg patterns. Also try olive woolly buggers, San Juan worms or sowbugs fished below a large strike indicator.