Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionApril 16, 2008 Edition
White River:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guides said we have had two more major rain events and the reservoirs on the White River system continue to rise at an alarming rate. The lake level at Bull Shoals Dam rose six and six tenths feet to rest at thirty four and eight tenths feet above power pool of 654.00 feet. This is six and two tenths feet below the top of flood pool and it continues to rise. Up stream, Table Rock Lake dropped six tenths of a foot to rest at eleven and nine tenths of a foot above power pool or four and one tenth of a foot below the top of flood pool. Beaver Lake rose one tenth of a foot to settle at nine and three tenths feet above pool or three tenths of a foot below the top of flood pool. At the time of this writing we are receiving heavy rain and the flood gates are open at Beaver. Beaver and Table Rock Lakes have been generating heavily. The water has been collecting in Bull Shoals Lake which is nearing capacity. Norfork Lake has risen three and five tenths feet to rest at twenty eight and four tenths of a foot above power pool of 552.00 feet or four tenths of a foot above the top of flood pool. Norfork Lake is over capacity and the Corps of Engineers have opened all flood gates at Norfork dam and are generating heavily. As flooding clears down stream, the Corps of Engineers will begin drawing down the Dams on the White River. The weather has been very wet. There have been a few days with lake wind advisories. There have been no wading opportunities on the Norfork River and precious few on the White. Boating conditions have been excellent. The Buffalo River and Crooked Creek are high and off colored. The White River below these streams is stained and not fishing well. The Upper White River is red hot. We have had low level generation (one to two generators). During this period, the Bull Shoals Dam Catch and Release has fished particularly well. The productive flies were black zebra midges, soft hackles and San Juan worms. The section from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter has also been hot. There has been a predictable rhyacophilia caddis hatch in the late afternoon. This is our premier hatch of the year. Prior to the hatch, caddis pupae patterns like the pulsating caddis have been effective. During the emergence, the green butt or partridge and green soft hackle have been the go to flies. When the trout start keying in on the adults, switch to green elk hair caddis size fourteen. Other productive flies in this section have been San Juan worms, sow bugs, zebra midges and partridge and orange soft hackles. Sportsman’s White River Resort said the water is clear and very high. Trout fishing is fair on Power Bait, Rattling Rogues and Rapalas. Mountain River Fly Shop said on April 9 that incredible caddis hatches have been coming off in the last week around Rim Shoals. Anything twitched slowly under the surface would have drawn at least some takes, but emergers were knocking them dead. We have also had good reports higher upstream than Rim, with caddis showing all the way to White Hole by midweek. Up higher we had some fuzzy reports of mayflies hatching and some big midge hatches, which even triggered some great dry fly action. Davy Wotton Super Midges in red, black and pearl have been the trick from the dam to Rim Shoals. If the water is a little cloudy lower down try running San Juan's deep.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 694.94 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 585.90 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) reported the water is high and stained. The flood gates were recently opened. Stripers are the best thing going right now in shallow water on live bait, Flukes and Rattling Rogues. 101 Grocery and Bait said the store isn’t flooded out, come on by. Fishing is very good with the high water. This will be some of the best fishing there has been in a long time and it will only get better. The water is beginning to clear in the upper end and some of the coves. There is some debris here and there but for the most part it is starting to look good. Crappie fishing is fair using a small minnow on 1/16-oz. jig fished around 20 feet deep. Crappie will begin their staging for the spawn soon and start moving into the tree lines and the grass and brush that is above the normal shoreline. Water temps are still in the low 60s. Largemouth bass are biting well on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and worms fished in the grass and trees. White bass are biting well in creek arms. Striper fishing is good at all depths of water, and they are all over the lake. Try using live bait, stinkbait or what ever fits your style. Walleye fishing is fair. The boat ramps are open and so are the marinas. The walleye tournament for April 26 is still on and take off has been moved to Panther Bay Marina.
Norfork Tailwater:
Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said most places are underwater and there has been no fishing on the Norfork from their establishment.