Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionApril 8, 2009 Edition
White River:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the lakes in the White River system have all risen and all are currently above power pool. The pattern on the White was for heavy generation around the clock. Water levels for boating have been excellent. The big story has been the return of high water. The caddis are still coming off but with six or seven generators going on the White and two running on the Norfork, there is little if any top-water action. Local anglers reluctantly put away their four-weight rods and dry flies and pulled their heavier rods and high-water flies out once again. It is imperative that you not fish with a chain on water this high. It could grab the bottom and swamp your boat. The most effective way to fish during the past week has been to drift brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns. You need to use very long leaders and a lot of lead. Forget the small split shot. Use AAAs and heavily weighted flies. If you are not occasionally hanging up on the bottom, you are not doing it right. Of course, if you are using a lot of additional weight, you will need to use a very large strike indicator. The other killer technique is to bang the bank with large streamers on sink tip or full sinking lines. Several anglers have reported success with large streamers. The upper river at the Bull Shoals Dam catch-and-release area has been productive. There has been a lot of traffic here especially on the days after significant rainfall. When the water downstream is muddy or stained, you can always find clear water at the base of the dam. Rim Shoals has also been productive. Remember that this is the one place that has wadable water as long as the flows are below 17,000 cubic feet per second. The only way to access them is by boat. Arrange for a shuttle by water taxi at Rim Shoals Trout Dock.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is running high from generators running round the clock. Fishing from a boat is good with pink Power Bait and Little Cleos.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) the last 10 days have been extremely difficult. Eight generators on at Bull Shoals and two on at Norfork dam have added to the difficult fishing. Normally when the bite gets tough you can still go to the bottom with Power Bait and enjoy success.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said the water below Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River has been muddy and has not fished well. Fishing on Crooked Creek has improved as water temperatures climbed to fifty eight degrees. However, recent rain has muddied up the creek and it will take several days to clear.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.20 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 551.59 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 heavy generation on the Norfork with some brief periods of no generation. There was no generation on Sunday. The fishing on the Norfork has been slow. When the water was down last Sunday, the White was high and the Norfork was backed up far up stream from the Ackerman Access. Quarry Park fared a bit better and was fishing well. On the higher water, use the same high water tactics as on the White River. Dry Run Creek has fished particularly well during the past week, even when it was high and muddy. When the water was low and clear, the most productive fly was a sowbug.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the fishing is just as slow on the Norfork tailwater as it is on the White River. A Rattling Rogue in Blue/Silver/Orange will produce nice Browns, but only a few on an all-day trip.