Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionFebruary 11, 2009 Edition
White River: John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam opened for fishing. There has also been a shad kill, producing a feeding frenzy that has to be seen to be believed. The most effective flies to fish during the shad kill are white streamers. White woolly buggers, zonkers or marabou jigs can be effective. The shad kill has produced some fine browns. You must have a boat to effectively fish this phenomenon as it generally only occurs during fairly heavy generation. The best flows for a good shad kill would be in the 12,000 to 15,000 CFS range. The major action in the area has been on the upper White. The long awaited opening of the Catch and Release section at Bull Shoals Dam drew large numbers of anglers from inside and outside the immediate area. It was definitely crowded at times despite the cold temperatures and icy conditions. The hot flies were egg patterns in orange and peach. Midge patterns, particularly Dan’s turkey tail emerger accounted for some nice fish. There were some good browns caught. Wildcat Shoals has been a real hot spot. The lower shoals have fished particularly well with partridge and orange soft hackles, while the upper section has fished well with a variety of nymphs. Try Y2Ks, olive scuds and sowbugs. Roundhouse Shoals has been another hot spot. While the crowds have been light, the fishing has been good. Swinging olive woolly buggers in heavier water has been particularly effective. Another hot technique has been to high stick nymphs like the olive scud, Y2K and sowbug in fast water. The catch-and-release section at Rim Shoals has not been fishing well. However, this is one of the areas that has wadable water available even when they are generating substantial amounts of water. To access these spots contact Gary Flipin at Rim Shoals Trout Dock ferry you to wadable water with his water taxi.
Mountain River Fly Shop had no report due to the weather.
Sportsman’s White River Report (870-453-2424) had no report as many people are still dealing with ice damage issues.
Crooked Creek: John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said fishing is dead slow.
Bull Shoals Lake: As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 656.58 feet MSL.
Lake Norfork:As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.31 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait had no report because of the weather.
Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) had no report.
Norfork Tailwater: John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Norfork has not fished well during the last week. With heavier generation on the White River this has been the only wadable water that could be easily accessed. The go-to flies have been olive scuds, sowbugs and orange micro eggs, but again, it’s been slow. Worm brown San Juan worms have also produced fish. Sculpin patterns fished through deep holes have accounted for some nice trout. Dry Run Creek has been fishing well, as always. There has been virtually no one there. It has been brutally cold and not the kind of weather that you want to subject your children. The fish are still there. Carefully monitor the weather and capitalize on that warm sunny day we get occasionally in the middle of winter. Be sure and bundle up your youngster. The hot flies have been sowbugs, San Juan worms and olive woolly buggers.