Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
January 6, 2010 Edition
White River:John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said there has been precious little wadable water, and the releases have increased. If you are fishing on the White River, carefully monitor the water level and avoid boating on it.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is very high, with 8 generators running around the clock. The water is very high, but some anglers are fishing and catching a few on crankbaits and jigs.
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said generation has been erratic at best. Periods of low water, followed by a release of larger amounts. Nymph tactics from a boat with San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 12-18) have been delivering good fish. Also try streamer fishing using woolly buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars and various sculpin patterns (sizes 6-10). Concentrate on bank cover, such as boulders, root wads and laydowns.
White River (From Buffalo City to Red’s Landing):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said no one has been fishing because of the extremely cold weather.
Buffalo River:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said water levels are very good in the middle section for fishing. Water temperatures are in the mid- to low 40s. Lures fished slowly on the bottom should pick up some smallmouth. Water flows are just a tad high for fly-fishing in the mid- and lower sections.
Crooked Creek:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said water levels are a little high for fly-fishing, but spin fishing should be good. Water temps are in the low 40s. Soft plastics and jigs fished slowly on the bottom should pick up some good fish.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 664.39 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 558.05 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).
101 Grocery and Bait said fishing live bait is the key to hooking into a striped bass this time of year. Shiners are the hot bait. The water temperature is in the upper 50-degree range and it is getting cooler every day. If striper fishing is your thing, it's time to get on the water. Crappie fishing has been fair and of course live bait is the bait of choice. White bass fishing is good. Walleye fishing is fair. Largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky bass fishing is fair. Sunfish and catfish fishing are fair. The night bite for stripers and walleye should begin any time now using Rogues.
Norfork Tailwater:
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said no one has been fishing because of the cold.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said monitor the water levels on the Norfork and do not attempt boating on it until the Corps of Engineers closes the flood gates and limits flows to generation from the dam. The boat ramp at Quarry Park is flooded and closed to all traffic. The high water levels washed away all of the recently installed landscaping. Hopefully there will be no further damage to the recently resurfaced ramp parking lot.
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said the Corps of Engineers has been generating around the clock. Drift-fishing from a boat is very successful, using high-water nymph tactics with larger flies; San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 12-16). Streamer fishing using sink tip lines with woolly buggers, slump busters, zoo cougars or various sculpin patterns in sizes 4-8 is also working. Use safe boating procedures while fishing the high water, and always go with one person devoted to controlling the boat and one person fishing.