Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
November 18, 2009 Edition
White River:
Mountain River Fly Shop said the White is fishing very well both for boaters and waders during on moderate flows. Places like Rim Shoals, the Narrows, Cotter/Roundhouse and Wildcat have been fishable for waders. Egg patterns have been tremendously productive, pinks, oranges, and other hues have all done very well. With a bunch of browns having started the spawning cycle before the warm weather (and a bunch more ready to go) the rainbows are really keying on eggs. Midge patterns are working as well.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said light but steady generation around the clock with slightly higher flows in the afternoon have been the normal conditions. There has been precious little wadable water. We did have a brief (two hour) window of no generation one afternoon. The only thing preventing high levels of generation around the clock is flooding down stream. As soon as it clears, we will see a lot of high water. The stretch from Cotter to Rim Shoals has fished well. The moderate flows we have received have been perfect for drift fishing. The hot flies have been San Juan worms and Y2Ks. Two-fly rigs (San Juan worm and egg) have done particularly well in this area. Small mayfly nymphs like pheasant tails and copper johns and midge patterns (black zebra midges with silver wire and silver bead) also have been effective. Rim Shoals has cooled down some but is still fishing well. The go-to flies have been Y2Ks and cerise San Juan worms. If you encounter high water, Rim Shoals Trout Dock maintains a water taxi and will ferry you to wadable water for a nominal fee. Some of the more productive water that can be accessed includes the water around Jenkin’s Creek or along the island near the walk-in access.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said two to three generators are running fairly steadily. Trout fishing is good from a boat, but most of the fish being caught are small rainbows.
White River (From Buffalo City to Red’s Landing):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report.
Crooked Creek:
John Berry of Berry Brothers Guide Service said Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River are clearing, but fishing is still very slow.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 680.20 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 570.66 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).
101 Grocery and Bait said fishing has been good for the most part. The surface temperature is in the low 60s. There is some stained water near the newly flooded brush that has been good for largemouth bass. Kentucky and smallmouth bass are being caught more often in the deeper water. Crappie fishing has been fair using minnows and small rubber baits with a very light jig and a slow presentation. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and live minnows. Walleye fishing has been slow. Striper fishing has been slow. White bass fishing has been fair on top-water baits.
Norfork Tailwater:
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Norfork has received a lot of pressure due to round the clock generation on the White, but has still fished well. Midge patterns have been the go-to flies on the lower flows. The most productive patterns were black zebra midges with silver wire and silver beads, black Norfork midges and Dan’s turkey tail emergers. Other effective flies have been olive woolly buggers and soft hackles (partridge and orange soft hackles and green butts). On the higher flows hot fluorescent pink San Juan worms and orange egg patterns have been the most effective way to fish. There has been some major work done at Quarry Park. The parking lot at the ramp has been resurfaced. This is a busy ramp and it is great to have it back in service. Dry Run Creek has fished well this past week. There are some big browns that have moved into the creek to spawn. The hot fly, as always, has been the sow bug. San Juan worms and Y2Ks have also accounted for some large fish.
Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides had no report.