Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
January 13, 2010 Edition
White River:
AGFC staff stocked the following in the White River in December: 35,549 catchable rainbow trout, 146,643 fingerling brown trout, 22,130 fingerling brook trout.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation has been around the clock, and there has been no wadable water. Fishing from a boat can also be treacherous because of high flows and iced up boat ramps. Fishing in the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam is closed until Jan. 31, and the section between the catch-and-release area and the wing wall at the state park is catch-and-release until Jan. 31. During high water, use brightly colored San Juan worms (red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise) and egg patterns (red, pink and orange). You will need a 14-foot leader with a lot of lead (at least a AAA split shot placed 18 inches from the fly). Use at least 4X tippet and a large strike indicator to float this rig. Another effective strategy is to fish streamers. Concentrate on the bank or any heavy cover where fish might escape the current. Your best bet would be to use large articulated streamers like the zoo cougar on heavy sink-tip line. You will need at least an eight weight rod to cast this rig. Use a short piece of heavy mono (three feet of 2X fluorocarbon tippet) in lieu of a conventional leader to help get the fly down. This strategy targets big fish, but is a lot of work. The brutal cold and high generation are the perfect conditions for creating a shad kill. Threadfin shad are drawn through the dam turbines and create a feeding frenzy in the river below. Be on the lookout for gulls feeding on the shad below the dam. The most effective flies will be white shad patterns. Be sure and have both floating and sinking versions.
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and high, with seven generators running. Trout are biting well on Rogues, spinners and spoons. Last week was too cold to launch a boat with the ramps iced over.
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said heavy generation with flows averaging 22,000 CFS all week has made fishing from a boat the best option. High-water techniques with nymphs drifted under a large indicator and split shot or stripping streamers with a fast sinking line are two of the better options. The best flies have been eggs (orange, pink or peach), humpback scuds, sow bugs, copper johns, zebra midges, zoo cougars, woolly buggers, slump busters, Arkansas bead heads, Davy's shads and zonkers. Look for shad to start coming through and fish a white streamer, either under an indicator or with varying retrieves with a floating or fast-sinking line. Always wear your life jacket and maintain control of your boat at all times.
White River (From Shipp’s Ferry to Red’s Landing):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) said the weather finally taken a turn for the better, and you can get out on the water. There have been no anglers on the water for a couple of weeks, so the fish are feeling no pressure. Seven generators are running at Bull Shoals. With all the high water, use plenty of weight to get your Power Baits to the bottom and cast your artificial baits right to the bank. Fishing is pretty good and the fish are running a little larger than usual. Be very careful if you decide to fish. The high water makes the river more dangerous than usual.
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 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 and the slightly warmer and sunny days will make the fish more active. 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 659.67 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 554.70 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).
101 Grocery and Bait said cold weather has kept some anglers off the water, but fishing has been good for those who have managed to get out. Live bait and jigging spoons are catching fish well. The surface water temp is in the mid-30s depending on the area of the lake you are in.
Norfork Tailwater:
AGFC fisheries staff stocked the Norfork Tailwater with the following in December: 13,022 fingerling brown trout, 21,420 fingerling brook trout, 2,026 catchable rainbow trout.
John Berry from Berry Brothers Guide Service said generation has been around the clock, with no wadable water. Effective January 1, the catch-and-release section on the Norfork River was increased. The new upper boundary is the bottom of Long Hole and the new lower limit will be the Ackerman Access. The new regulations also allow for multiple hook points in catch-and-release section, but all hook points must be barbless. During high water, brightly colored San Juan worms (red, cerise and hot fluorescent pink) and egg patterns (peach and orange) are the go-to flies. Dry Run Creek has fished well. The hot fly has been a size 14 sow bug. Worm brown San Juan worms and egg patterns have also done well. The few young anglers that have braved the cold have been rewarded.
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides said heavy generation with flows averaging 6,600 CFS has made fishing a challenge. High-water techniques from a boat are the only options. Drifting nymphs under a large indicator and split shot or fishing streamers with a fast sink-tip or full sinking line are two of the better techniques. The best flies to try are egg (orange, pink or peach), San Juan worm (tan, pink or red), copper john, red fox squirrel nymph, humpback scud, sow bug and zebra midge all in sizes 10-16. Flies for streamer fishing include zoo cougars, wooly buggers, slump busters, Arkansas bead heads, Davy's shads and zonkers in sizes 4-10. Keep an eye out for shad to start coming through the generators and fish white streamers, either under an indicator or with various retrieves on a floating or fast-sinking line. For safety, always wear your life jacket during high water and maintain control of your boat at all times.