White River
Sportsman’s White River Resort
(870-453-2424) said the water is clear and three generators are
running. Trout fishing is good on drifted Power Bait, worms and shad in
the afternoons. Some large brown trout have been caught on Rapalas, jigs
and small spinners in the evenings.
Randy Oliver at
www.randyoliverguide.com
(901-832-1903) said generation has been steady this week and the fish
are hitting corn and red worms fished off the bottom drift fishing.
Guide Davy Wotton
said there should be some early caddis hatches soon with the warm
weather. Generation levels are generally low with a few high water
spikes, which have generated some shad through the dams. Best options
are at this time drift fishing combinations of caddis larva and rock
worms, sow bugs, white tail and prism midges in black and red. Wade
fisherman, more or less as above, for the Norfork during low water then
you will have to reduce the size of the midge from 16s to 22s at times,
same also for Bull Shoals dam when generation is shut down.
Jim Brentlinger at
Linger’s Guide Service and Fishing Lodge(870-499-5185)
said fishing is excellent. Water clarity is excellent all up and down
the river. Rapalas and Zig Jigs continue to produce. Small plastic
minnows in gray or white on an 1/8-oz. jig head are working. The
fly-fishing bite has been excellent as well. Hot pink or bright red San
Juan worms or peach and orange egg patterns fished close to the bottom
under an indicator will produce.
Buffalo River
Just Fishing Guides
said the river levels are 2.15 feet and 87 cfs at Ponca; 4.40 feet and
124 cfs at Pruitt; 4.97 feet and 685 cfs at Tyler Bend, and 3.87 feet
and 735 cfs at Buffalo Point. Water temperatures range from 49-55
degrees.
Crooked Creek
Just Fishing Guides said the gauge at
Kelly’s Slab is reading 10.99 ft and 286 cfs. Water temperatures have
been averaging 50 degrees.
Bull Shoals Lake
As of
Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation
at 653.58 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool - 654 MSL).
Mike Worley’s Guide Service
said walleye and bass fishing have been good. The mild weather this
winter has kept the fish shallow. (We are catching them in less than 20
feet of water.) When the wind is up, Alabama-rigged 3- or 4-inch swim
baits are producing a mixed bag of fish. Jigs, spoons and suspending
jerk baits also are working. White bass are moving into the creeks and
large coves and should start biting soon. Crappie fishing has been slow
but should also pick up soon.
Bull Shoals Tailwater
Just Fishing Guides
said generation has been around the clock varying between one and six
units (3000-15,000 cfs). Nymphing and streamers are two of the more
productive presentations. Brown trout are on the feed now following the
spawn. Reports of shad coming through during generation are true. White
flies will represent the shad. Large streamers on 7- and 8-weight rods
and fast-sinking lines can put you on that epic fish. Try staying with
rising water while fishing to improve your odds. There also has been
good action on Mepps undressed spinners in gold and silver.
Lake Norfork
As of
Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation
at 551.89 feet MSL (Normal conservation pool: Sept.-April - 552 MSL,
April-Sept. - 554 MSL).
Blackburn Resort said
the water level has stopped rising. Surface temperature is in the
mid-40s. People are catching some nice stripers on grubs halfway back in
the creeks. Crappie are also halfway back in the creeks around deep
brush. Several fish have been caught on small spoons in the brush piles.
101 Grocery and Bait
said crappie, walleye, bass and bluegill have been excellent on live
minnows. Striper fishing has been spotty. Walleye are moving upstream to
spawn and the stripers should be right behind them to do their thing.
STR Outfitters
said the warm weather and water has triggered the spring walleye run.
Walleye are being caught in 8 to 10 feet of water on creek chubs rigged
on a no. 6 circle hook and small sinker. Most fish are being caught
right at the state line up to Udall Marina.
Hummingbird Hideaway Resort had no report.
Guide Steve Olomon said
the water temperature is in the mid- to upper 40s. The stripers are
still scattered and down with the baitfish around 60 feet deep. Some
walleye are moving up the river and in major creeks. Look for bass close
to bluff ends and in pockets. White bass are stacking up in the creeks
as well. Crappie are fair around brush in the creeks.
Randy Oliver at
www.randyoliverguide.com
(901-832-1903) said crappie are moving up into the creeks. Fish are
suspended in brush piles in 15 to 20 feet of water. Minnows have worked
well early in the morning until about 10 a.m.
Norfork Tailwater
Randy Oliver at
www.randyoliverguide.com
(901-832-1903) ) said shad have been coming through the dam and the
fishing has been hot. When the river is running, use black and silver
Countdown Rapalas in size 7, and black and silver Shad Raps in size 5.
Dead shad and redworms are working during low water, fished about 12
inches off the bottom.
Just Fishing Guides
said generation has been usually twice per day with flows from
3,500-6,000 cfs. Tan scuds have been hot lately. Small streamers without
bead or cone heads are working well also. Sow bugs, midges, worm and
egg patterns should be in your arsenal as well.
All
the guides (that I know) on the White River use a "White River Rig",
aka "Drift Rig", aka "Carolina Rig" for bait/spinfishing. 
