Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
March 31, 2010 Edition
White River:
Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear and at normal level with about five generators running. Trout are biting well on Power Bait, trout worms, white jigs and shad.
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides had no new report.
Guide Davy Wotton said recent rainfall has topped off the lakes over pool, and Bull Shoals has been running from 5 to 7 gates open daily. There is not much wade fishing possible. Fishing has been up and down. Some days the bite has been hot all day others see a good morning bite and a slow bite in the afternoon. During low water flows the further you are from the dam zones the better. Aside from that we have had some great days with browns averaging 18 to 24 inches, rainbows in the 18 to 21 inch class and a few very nice cutthroats being caught. The best option on high water is indicator rigs or streamers. It pays to fish two-fly rigs such as worm-and-egg combination. Fish the worm on the dropper and add your weight above the dropper knot. Choices of fly should include dynamite, prism and San Juan worms in red, claret, tan and pink. Prism, super and whitetail midge in sizes 14 and 16, scuds and sow bugs in 14 and 16 hook size. Other fly choices should include gold-ribbed hare’s ear, rockworms, and green and tan caddis pupa. Many of the invertebrate food sources are more active at this time of the year and that in consequence also promotes fish to feed. Spin fisherman need to keep their lures small, with small Mepps and Buoyant spoons and Rooster Tails working fairly well. Bait fishing has been hit-or-miss. Minnows may be a good bet for the larger fish at this time. Typical White River drift rigs with nightcrawlers, shrimp and Power Bait should find fish.
White River (From Buffalo City to Red’s Landing):
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no new report.
Buffalo River:
Jim Brentlinger at Linger's Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no new report.
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides had no report.
Crooked Creek:
Zachary Hoyt at Just Fishing Guides had no new report.
Bull Shoals Lake:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 660.06 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).
Bob Pauletti at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock said water temperatures range from 49 degrees in the backs of creeks to 43 on the main lake. With the last three years of high water, anglers may see some of the best fishing on Bull Shoals that this lake has ever experienced! This is the time for big bass, especially large mouth. Look for better fish on bluff wall ends and channel swings in major creeks, also try main lake pockets that may have wind blowing on them. Use a jerk bait that suspends or sinks slowly and work it as slowly as you can. Crayfish-colored crankbaits, Carolina rigs and mojo rigs will pick up smaller prespawn males in the backs of the creeks. White bass have moved to the backs of major creeks. The action is just beginning, so it’s a good time to chase the whites on the run. Some favorite places to fish are Howard Creek, Jimmie Creek, gulley, and Barnes Bay. Fish Roadrunners, white jigs, Beetle Spins and small crankbaits in white or silver. Crappie fishing has been slow, but this will change soon. Your best bet now is a minnow and jig, or just a minnow on a split-shot rig over brush piles. Along with the crappie, you may find yellow perch. I have caught these more and more over the last few years in the same places I catch crappie. Walleye fishing is also slow at this point, especially for this time of year, but this too will change. One of the baits that work well is a jerk bait worked slowly on long points with access to deep water. Also try jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or minnows dragged along the bottom. (Last updated 3-17-2010)
Lake Norfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 554.96 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).
101 Grocery and Bait said walleye and stripers are moving into the creeks and will hit long jerk baits and minnow plugs. The bass are mostly suspended. The crappie are hitting light as are the sunfish. There has been some white bass action around the flats and in the main lake area. Catfish are being caught using live bait and jigging spoons.
Norfork Tailwater:
Shannon Murphy with Charlie’s Rainbow Trout Resort said the river has been running high for two weeks, ever since the sow bug roundup. Norfork is running one generator with little to no wadeable water. Due to the extremely muddy waters in the White River, there has been a lot of boat traffic in the Norfork on weekends. So please boaters be careful. There have been some wading fishermen up near dry run creek and they are catching a lot of fish. Try using small sow bugs and midge patterns. The fishing has slowed due to the abundant aquatic midge hatch. Several guides have reported the trout are full of the tiny bugs. The trout that do bite are nice size, ranging from 10 inches to 13 inches. Bigger fish are being caught on small shad. Bait fisherman are catching fish but fishing is spotty. The boating fishermen using lures and other artificials have not had good reports. Guides are reporting catching fish using worms, shad and Power Bait. The best fishing seems to be in a boat. The fish seem more active during early morning and just before dark. Also note there is now a bright full moon and fish are likely to be feeding at night. I would recommend renting a boat and hiring a local guide from any of the resorts or trout docks.
Guide Davy Wotton said The Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery in conjunction with the USFW and the AGFC have now completed the new boardwalk and mobility impaired access at Dry Run Creek. This $60,000 project has greatly enhanced the creek for access. AGFC habitat improvement team are close to completing the in-stream habitat also at the creek, here again providing further habitat with cascade pools and deep water zones for the fish.