Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas....From Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

December 1, 2011  Edition                                                Back to Fishing Reports Index 

Fishing Highlight of the Week: As the water gets colder, soft-plastic tubes and grubs begin to lose their appeal to fish. These lures take a lot of movement to produce a lifelike action, and cold-weather fishing is often a very slow affair. Bucktail jigs and marabou jigs often produce better during cold months because they still retain a lifelike action with very little movement.

White River

 

Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said the water is clear during low water and cloudy during generation. Typically two generators are running in the mornings. Trout are biting well on Lil’ Cleos, Buoyant spoons and Rooster Tails. Fly anglers are doing well on copper johns, zebra midges, woolly buggers and hopper imitations. Brown trout are biting well on Rapalas and Rogues during generation and on white 1/8-oz. jigs. 

 

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said little to no generation this past week has the fish holding in deep holes behind shoals without much current. Shad Raps in Black and Gold and Silver and Black in a size 5 have work well in the mornings fished very slowly. Power Bait in bubble gum, pink and white work better this week than corn.  

 

Guide Davy Wotton said fishing continues to be good despite the cold, rain and wind. Generation has been from zero to high levels. Water release from Bull Shoals Dam is still warm, which has somewhat retarded the brown trout spawn in the upper levels of the river. Nymph fishing techniques using white tail, prism and zebra midges in black, red, pearl and silver has been very productive. During high flows, try egg and worm patterns. Trophy browns may well hit a streamer along shorelines. Dry flies including Adams, BWO and elk hair caddis have worked well during low flows.

 

Jim Brentlinger at Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185) said the river started to clear and get that green look about Thanksgiving and the fish really turned on. Black/Gold/White Rapalas have been the ticket for all the fish you’d like to catch. When the water cleared a little more, Blue Fox spinners in gold along with black/yellow Panther Martins produced quite a few fish.

 

Buffalo River

 

Just Fishing Guides said the Buffalo River levels were: Ponca – 2.08 feet and 57 cfs; Pruitt – 2.54 feet and 155 cfs; Tyler Bend – 4.88 feet and 612 cfs, and Buffalo Point – 3.61 feet and 572 cfs. The entire river is very low and wading or dragging a canoe is the only way to fish except in the Buffalo Point area and below. Water temperatures are 53-63 degrees. Smaller fish have been the rule. The river flows are very low, about half of the average flow, and care should be taken to not spook fish. Spin fisherman are doing good bottom-bouncing tubes, lizards and brush hogs in watermelon/red and green pumpkin. For fly-anglers, try crazy ‘dads, rabbit tail sliders, woolly buggers and Clouser minnows on both floating and sink-tip lines.

 

Crooked Creek

 

Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at Kelly’s Slab is reading 10.14 feet and 28 cfs. The creek is low for floating. Wade fishing is excellent. Spin fishing with soft plastics and 1/16-oz. jigs will consistently catch good numbers of fish. Bottom bouncing soft plastics such as 4-inch lizards, 3-inch tubes and brush hogs in watermelon, watermelon/red and green pumpkin is working well. Fly-anglers should try Clousers, zonkers, crazy ‘dads and sculpins.

 

Bull Shoals Lake

 

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 654.66 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool – 654 MSL).

 

Mike Worley’s Guide Service had no report.

 

Bull Shoals Tailwater

 

Just Fishing Guides said extended periods of low water over the weekend has provided outstanding wade fishing. The Narrows, Wildcat and Rim Shoals are all fishing extremely well. A variety of flies are producing browns up to 20 inches long. Suggested patterns include fox squirrel nymph, BH simple sow, hare 'n copper, BH hare's ear, BH flashback pheasant tail, San Juan worm and Y2K, all in sizes 12-16.

 

Lake Norfork

 

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 550.88 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April – 552 MSL, April-Sept. – 554 MSL).

 

Blackburn Resort had no report. 

 

STR Outfitters said stripers have moved to their winter pattern; look for them in the main part of the lake channels and creeks. They are roaming in big schools, but it’s very hard to stay with them. Most of the fish are in the 35- to 40-foot range in 50 to 80 feet of water. Shiners and small shad are working the best.

 

Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said the fish are schooling and starting the feeding frenzy that’s typical before winter. They are aggressive and active. If you are looking to catch that trophy striper, now is the time to try your luck. The crappie bite has been very good. The crappie are on sunken brush piles in 30-35 feet of water. The fish are suspended on top of the brush and also in shallower water inside the brush closer to the bank. Vertical jigging a spoon as well as throwing a small grub is working great.

 

Guide Steve Olomon said the water temperature is still around 60 degrees, but will drop this week with the cold weather. Bass are still hitting on crankbaits and spinnerbaits near windblown banks. For the deeper ones throw a jig and work it slow. Check bluff ends for walleye. Stripers are in deeper water during the day and moving up on flats at night.

 

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) had no report.

 

Norfork Tailwater

 

Randy Oliver at www.randyoliverguide.com (901-832-1903) said fishing has been slow with little to no generation. Oxygen levels are still low upriver toward the dam.

 

Just Fishing Guides said generation has been pulsing spikes to about 1,000 cfs to increase dissolved oxygen. Low DO levels can hamper fishing with lethargic fish. The COE continues to pulse water 1-2 times a day for 1-4 hours. There’s good low water wade fishing between pulses. Nymphing continues to produce good numbers of fish. Scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges, pheasant tails, worm and egg patterns are all producing.