Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionApril 1, 2009 Edition
White River:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the generation pattern on the White last week was low levels throughout the day with the occasional spike of heavy current during midday. Remember, there is a new size limit on brown trout. All browns shorter than 24 inches must be released immediately no matter where they are caught on the White and Norfork Rivers. Only one brown trout longer than 24 inches may be kept in the daily limit of five trout. The upper river from the Bull Shoals Dam catch-and-release area downstream to Cain Island has been hot. Low flows were perfect for drift fishing. Effective patterns were zebra midges, San Juan worms and egg patterns. When you are fishing this area, do not drag chains or walk through the redds. Disturbing them could destroy the wild brown trout eggs recently deposited there. Rim Shoals has been another hot spot. During low flows, anglers have been doing well with size 14 black zebra midges. During high flows, the go-to flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (hot pink, cerise and red). The most productive pattern has been the Y2K in yellow and orange. We will begin having our major insect hatches very soon. The first is our rhyancophilia caddis. They have an insect green body and are large (size 14) at the beginning of the hatch. As it goes on, they will get progressively smaller, down to size 18. Green elk hair caddis work well for this hatch. Before the hatch, fish a size 14 pulsating nymph and you should hook up on some good subsurface strikes.
Mountain River Fly Shop said several days of low water over the sowbug weekend are triggering massive caddis hatches from Buffalo Shoal up past Wildcat Shoal. The fishing was tremendous on sub-surface and dry flies. This week the higher flows, carrying a lot of river trash, have swung things back towards deep fished eggs and worms; the Pink Lady is very good for these flows. Try Dynamite and San Juan Worms, plus clown eggs and fluorescent orange eggs, veiled eggs and Y2ks as attractors. Streamers also have been working well.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is running high and clear. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, white jigs and shad drifted in the current from a boat.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said last week the fish were biting well from Buffalo Shoals down to the Norfork tailwater. Late in the week, they slowed considerably and have become difficult to take on artificial lures. You can still go to the bottom and do decent in some places, but not everywhere. Crankbaits and jigs have produced the most fish on artificials. Power Bait is producing the best on the bottom. The White is still fairly stained from the rains but should clear enough to catch fish any day.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek still is not fishing well. The water is low and clear but still a bit cold for the smallmouth to be active. As the weather warms and the water temperature reaches 55 degrees, we can expect the smallmouth action to improve.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.61 feet MSL.
Bob Pauletti (870-656-3350) with Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said fishing has been fair this week with water temperatures in the 50-52 degree range in the backs of creeks and 49-50 degrees on the main lake. Quality largemouth are being caught on steeper banks in the creek arms using stick baits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits with a little wind. If it’s calm, slow down with a Carolina or mojo rig with a 4-inch worm, lizard or gitzit. Spotted bass and smallmouth have been active on the same baits; look for these fish further back in the creek arms. Crappies up to 2½ pounds are being brought in to the dock, work live bait or small jigs over brush piles for these fish. White bass are being caught on Road Runners, Beetle Spins, and minnow baits. Look for these fish in the backs of major creek arms. Walleye have been far and few.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 552.55 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait said the water temperature is in the upper 50s. The water is clear to stained in the upper parts of the lake from the rain. Striper fishing has been fair at night using stick baits. Walleye fishing has been fair at night using stick baits fished along the shore. Crappie fishing has been fair this past week using minnows and tube baits. Bluegills are starting to hit crickets and worms. Bass fishing has been good. White bass fishing has been fair.
Norfork Tailwater:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said there has been limited generation on the Norfork with several days of no generation. This has created some excellent wading. With many anglers in town for the Sowbug Roundup, the Norfork has been packed. If you plan on fishing there, be sure and take your own rock so you will have a place to stand. The better fishing has been on the lower river just below the Ackerman Access. The fish seem to be running a bit larger there. Another hot spot has been Quarry Park below Norfork dam. The catch-and-release section has been particularly crowded. Several anglers have been walking up to McClellan’s. Be very careful! This is a long walk and, if the water comes up, it is a dangerous wade out in rising water. It would be much safer to launch a personal watercraft at the dam; float down to McClellan’s and exit at the confluence. Rose’s Trout Dock will arrange a shuttle for a nominal fee. Dry Run Creek, as always, has fished particularly well. There have been a few more young anglers on the creek particularly on the weekends. Hot flies have been sowbugs, worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said from the Long Hole downriver continues to be very slow. The water color is good and the water level very acceptable, but the fish have been extremely difficult to take.