Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionJune 6, 2009 Edition
White River:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the pattern on the White was for moderate flows around the clock. This created some excellent conditions for drift fishing and some limited wading. The catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam has been fishing extremely well. With lower flows, anglers reported success on midge patterns. The most effective were zebra midges in black with silver wire and silver beads and red with silver wire and silver beads. The best sizes were 14-16. Other hot patterns have been pheasant tails and egg patterns. Wildcat Shoals has been another hot spot. Anglers have reported great success on low flows. The hot flies have been soft hackles. Try green butts, partridge and orange soft hackles and partridge and green soft hackles. Anglers have also done well with black zebra midges and olive woolly buggers. Rim Shoals has fished extremely well. The hot flies were black zebra midges, prince nymphs and pheasant tail nymphs. Other successful flies have been brightly colored San Juan worms (cerise, hot fluorescent pink, and red), egg patterns, and Y2Ks. Some anglers have reported success stripping olive woolly buggers in deeper runs. The best way to do this is with a fast sinking sink tip or a full sinking line.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water fluctuates because they are turning the generators off in the morning and on in the evening and are using 2-3 generators at a time. Fishing is good on Power Bait and small spoons when water levels are low, and jigs and Rapalas when the water is higher.
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said water releases have been moderate. Cloudy days have been bettering the upper reaches. Several flies have been productive for rainbow trout. Beadhead midges, San Juan worms, copper johns and pink jigs have all worked well. The fish are spooky when the sun is out, so increase the length of your leader on sunny days.
White River (From Buffalo Shoals to Norfork):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said from Cartney to Big Creek, trout have been biting very steadily on jigs, Power Bait, spinners and Rapalas. Smallmouth bass are biting very well from Cartney to Shipps Ferry. Tube baits in dark green or pumpkinseed work well. Larger bass are coming on 5/8- or 3/8-ounce spinnerbaits slow rolled back to the boat. Large brown trout will hit these baits as well. The Matney area has been a little slow for trout but the smallmouth are very active in that area. A lot of fish are being caught from Norfork to Reds Landing. Power Bait is producing the most fish.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are starting to clear. With lower flows the bass fishing should start picking up. Try Clouser minnows and crawfish patterns and concentrate on structure like rock shelves and fallen trees.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 671.85 feet MSL.
Bob Pauletti (870-656-3350) with Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock had no report.
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 562.42 feet MSL.
101 Grocery and Bait said the surface water temperature is in the mid- to upper 70s. Crappie fishing is fair. Striper fishing is fair. Bluegill fishing is good on crickets, worms and small minnows. Catfishing is good using trotlines and jugs baited with stink bait, chicken liver or shiners. Bass fishing has been fair. White bass fishing has been fair. Walleye fishing has been fair using minnows and worms. The morning bite is the best time to be on the fish, especially for white bass.
Norfork Tailwater:
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation on the Norfork has been very limited, which has created some excellent wading. The Corps of Engineers has been holding back water to relieve flooding downstream. When that flooding abates, we can expect some much higher levels of generation. The overall quality of fishing on the Norfork River remains poor because of heavy fishing pressure. On lower flows concentrate on midge nymph patterns like the black zebra midge or Norfork bead head in sizes 18-20. Midge emergers like Dan’s turkey tail emerger are also effective. On higher flows brightly colored San Juan worms and egg patterns are the go to flies. Be on the look out for a good sulphur hatch.
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said fishing is poor in the Norfork tailwater. Some small fish can be caught on Power Bait and jigs fished from the confluence of the White and North Fork to the first island upstream.