Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas

From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

November 19, 2008 Edition                                           

White River: Sportsman’s White River Resort said no anglers have visited the shop in a week. The oxygen
levels are up on the river and stocking should resume.

Mountain River Fly Shop said oxygen levels topped 6.0 for the first time in several weeks and fishing is
improving. The cooler weather will help as well. Some guides said the brown were much more aggressive,
chasing down streamers. White Zonkers, Circus Peanuts and Conrad Sculpins are working well if you fancy
throwing something big. Tungsten Slumpbusters and Bunny Leeches are also working well. Drifting the standard
egg-and-worm rig remains hot where legal. Hot Pink San Juans or Dynamite worms probably head the list,
Clint’s Sunday specials and Davy’s Sowbugs are also doing well.

John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam is
closed until Feb. 1. The section from the bottom of the catch-and-release area downstream to the wing wall at
the state park is seasonal catch-and-release until Feb. 1. Fishing on the White River has been a bit better.
Dissolved oxygen levels in the upper river have improved and the colder weather has eased the water
temperatures. The section from the Narrows to Wildcat Shoals is still fishing well. The most productive method
has been to fish brightly colored San Juan worms below indicators with a lot of lead. For a change of pace, try
fishing a dropper like an orange egg, sow bug or zebra midge below the San Juan worm. Banging the bank with
large streamers on a sink tip or full sinking line is still the most effective method to move big fish. Hot patterns
have been white zonkers, kiwi muddlers and Mengle’s Ozark sculpin. The catch-and-release section at Rim
Shoals has at times fished a bit better than the upper river. The fishing has been spotty. The better fishing has
been in the morning. The hot flies for this area have been hot pink San Juan worms and brightly colored egg
patterns.