Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionMarch 19, 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 the water is very muddy and all species are slow. Mountain River Fly Shop said it’s been a case of grab a boat or go without for the last week, with four or more units running daily. The shad have been coming through in the afternoons, bringing up some good fish. Large jigs or flies with many split shot pinched to the leader are the only way to effectively fish the current. Pink Ladies and deep drifted San Juan worms are working well, particularly over flooded grass beds.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 658.37 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 563.38 feet MSL. 101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature varies from the upper 40s to the low 50s. Stripers are hitting live bait and Rogues in less than 30 feet of water. Crappie fishing has been fair in less than 15 feet of water around brush piles. Bream are fair using small minnows fished around 10-15 feet in 20 feet of water. White bass are fair. Try jigging in 40 feet of water or casting in-line spinners in the mouths of the coves and the creeks. Bass fishing is fair using jigs and deep-diving crankbaits around 20 feet deep. Walleye fishing has been very slow in the lake. We have heard of a few walleye being caught in the creeks and rivers. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said stripers are biting well on live brood minnows and shad.
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 water is remaining high and swift. San Juan’s are a good bet on the Norfork in high water, but you need a boat to access most of the fishing waters. 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.