Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas

August 18, 2010  Edition                                                 

White River

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the river is low and the temperature is at the 60-degree mark. Two generators are running in the afternoon. Trout fishing is excellent from the bank in the evening. Wade fishing is also producing some good trout.

Guide Davy Wotton said high temperatures have been a little unbearable on the river. Fishing early in the morning has been very good. Dry fly fishing can be good in the morning, but once water surface temperature rises, trout are less interested to surface feed. Hoppers, ants, caddis and stimulators have been good. Trout will seek deep water and riffle water as temperatures rise during the day. Fish small sow bugs, midges, and generics such as GRHE, PTNs. Fish will feed aggressively when the water rises from generation in the afternoon. We have had some excellent early morning streamer fishing for large browns along shallow shorelines. Brown and orange marabou streamers have been doing well. Add to that olive and tan woolly buggers, in sizes 2 through 8 with long shank hooks. Bait and spin fisherman will experience better options early in the morning and during the rise.

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge (870-499-5185) had no report.

Buffalo River

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said the river is very low from the headwaters to the Ark. Hwy 14 bridge. After the bridge, the water level is low but floatable. Be aware that you may have to drag your boat in places. River level is 2.68 feet and flowing at 149 cfs. The really hot weather has pushed the best times for fishing to early morning and late evening. Soft plastics such as 4-inch Zoom lizards, baby brush hogs and tube baits in greens and browns are working best. Fly fishing is good with top-water flies in the evening and subsurface flies all other times. Crazy Dads, Clouser Minnows and muted colors of Sparkle Grubs are working best.

Crooked Creek

Ken Richards at Just Fishing Guides said the river level is 10.94 feet and the flow is 121 cfs. This is about 1.5 feet below the low-water bridge at Kelly’s Access. Smallmouth fishing continues to be very good on the creek. Crawdad patterns bounced on the bottom along with Clouser Minnows (both Deep Minnows and the Darter series) and KC’s Slider have been picking up some good fish.